Punjab Kings captain Shikhar Dhawan reflected on the remarkable journey of India wicketkeeper and Delhi Capitals skipper Rishabh Pant’s recovery from a severe injury. Notably, the BCCI cleared Pant to play as a wicketkeeper-batter for the Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 beginning next month. Pant was involved in an extremely dangerous car crash in December 2022 that required him to undergo multiple surgeries and kept him out of the 50-overs World Cup on home soil last year.
Speaking exclusively to Star Sports at the ‘Star Nahi Far’ event, Punjab Kings captain Shikhar Dhawan spoke about Rishabh Pant’s journey back to fitness and how he has recovered from his injury. Dhawan expressed his joy at witnessing Pant’s return to action and highlighted the resilience and determination demonstrated by the young cricketer.
“I am very happy and excited to see Rishabh Pant back in action. He has survived such a fatal accident, all thanks to God. In this last one year, he has worked so hard and shown such positive intent. He was in such pain that he wasn’t even able to move or do anything for the first few months,” Dhawan said.
Dhawan recounted the initial months post-accident, highlighting the intense pain and helplessness Pant experienced, to the extent that he required assistance for basic needs.
“Even for the toilet, he needed someone’s assistance. From that rough phase to now, he has shown a lot of patience, positivity, and tolerance, and it’s a huge thing. It surely gave him a lot of strength, and I am sure he is going to do wonders for himself and the country,” Dhawan added.
The Delhi Capitals captain was initially expected to play purely as a batter in the 10-team IPL, which begins in Chennai on March 22. “After undergoing an extensive 14-month rehab and recovery process … Rishabh Pant has now been declared fit as a wicketkeeper-batter for the upcoming IPL 2024,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah said in a statement. A successful performance in the IPL might earn the 26-year-old a spot in India’s T20 World Cup squad.