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Rishab Pant at Headingly
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Rishab Pant is without doubt the biggest entertainer in world cricket today. With all kinds of inventive shots, including tumbling over deliberately to scoop the ball over the wickets, he keeps the crowds asking for more.
In the current tour of England, just in the first Test, Pant pulled off two centuries, a record on its own. Two things during that match will be remembered for a long time. One, his celebratory cartwheel after the the first hundred. The second, his plaintive voice caught on the stump mic saying "sujaa diya maar maar ke, wahi pe maar raha hai..." This was in response to England bowler Josh Tongue's sharp bowling that hit his right knee several times, leaving Pant limping in pain.
It was a reminder that Pant is not just a charismatic cricketer, but a medical marvel of sorts.
Life-threatening accident
Less that three years ago, on December 30, 2022, Pant survived a life-threatening car accident on the Delhi-Dehradun highway, an incident that left him with severe injuries and cast doubt on his cricketing future.
The 27-year-old wicketkeeper-batter suffered two cuts on his forehead, a ligament tear in his right knee, injuries to his right wrist, ankle, and toe, and abrasion injuries on his back.
The crash was so severe that Pant’s car was engulfed in flames, and he was described as lying face-down in the wreckage with his right knee twisted at a 90-degree angle. Former India coach Ravi Shastri, who visited Pant in the hospital, recalled a grim scene: “Knee in a mess, scars all over the face, bruises all over the body... it wasn’t a pretty sight.”
A family friend told media that Pant’s injuries were so extensive that “his teeth were the only thing that wasn’t red.”
Painful recovery
Pant was initially treated at Max Hospital in Dehradun before being airlifted to Mumbai for extensive treatment, including surgery for ligament injuries in his knee and ankle. He was bedridden for 45 days, enduring significant pain and a challenging recovery process. Pant himself later reflected, “I am lucky to be alive after the kind of accident I had... the first part of recovery was so challenging with lots of pain, but now recovery is going well.” His youth and physical condition in his mid-20s were credited as key factors in his ability to recover.
Despite the trauma, Pant’s determination shone through. He expressed to doctors his resolve to return as a wicketkeeper-batter, a goal that seemed ambitious given the extent of his injuries. His recovery involved rigorous rehabilitation, including working on his gymnastics skills, which he had practiced since school. This dedication culminated in a triumphant return to competitive cricket, marked by his performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, where he scored a century in his final match for Lucknow Super Giants.
Pant’s comeback reached a pinnacle during the first Test against England at Headingley, Leeds, starting June 20, 2025. He scored a sensational 134 runs in the first innings and followed it with 118 runs in the second, becoming the first Indian wicketkeeper to score centuries in both innings of a Test match. His audacious batting, including unconventional shots like a one-handed six and a “falling paddle,” earned praise from former coach Ravi Shastri, who called him a “box office” player. Pant’s signature somersault celebration after his first-innings century was a nod to his recovery, a gesture of gratitude for his second chance at life and cricket. He revealed he had practiced gymnastics post-accident to regain this ability, stating, “Even if you wake me up in the middle of the night, I can do a somersault.”
Pant’s recovery was not without setbacks. On June 9, 2025, he suffered a minor injury scare during a practice session, struck on his left arm, but was deemed fit to play after treatment. His journey from a near-fatal accident to rewriting cricket record books has been hailed as a “miracle” by Shastri and an inspiring tale of resilience by the cricket community. Pant himself expressed gratitude for the support from fans and teammates, vowing to uplift national spirits, especially after the tragic Ahmedabad plane crash in June 2025. His story remains a testament to perseverance, as he continues to entertain and inspire on the global stage.