Rishabh Pant, who has been out of action for over a year, is set to make a comeback in the 2024 IPL. The wicketkeeper-batsman was the victim of a bone-chilling car accident near Roorkee in Uttarakhand in December 2022. The accident left Mr Pant with torn ligaments in his right knee and two cuts on his forehead.
Since the accident, he has been away from competitive cricket. Gearing up for his expected return, Pant was present at Delhi Capitals' table for the IPL 2024 auction and also joined the DC camp in November.
Recently, Pant opened up about his accident in a conversation with Star Sports. The 26-year-old thought his lifespan was numbered, but he revealed that he was lucky that things didn't get too serious.
“For the first time in my life, I felt like my life in this world was over. I was aware of the injury at the time of the accident, but it could have been much more serious, so I was lucky. Somebody save me. I asked, “How long will it take to recover?'' I asked my doctor, and he said it would be 16 to 18 months. “I knew I had to work hard,” he said.
Pant's absence will be greatly missed within the national team. India lost to Australia in the World Cup final, but a player of his caliber will be a key part of the mid-table. Meanwhile, India lost for the first time in Test cricket after taking a lead of over 100 runs against England at home. In his absence, KS Bharat is playing the role of wicketkeeper in Tests.
All eyes will be on him when he returns for the 2024 IPL, especially with the T20 World Cup scheduled this year.
The accident left him with injuries to his right wrist, ankle and toes, as well as abrasions to his back. First, he was admitted to Saksham Hospital near New Delhi and later shifted to Max Hospital in Dehradun. The car reportedly burst into flames when it hit a road median, which occurred at 5:30 a.m. The vehicle skidded for about 200 meters before crashing into the median.