India cricket star Rishabh Pant cleared for comeback after near-fatal car crash
Rishabh Pant has been cleared to return to professional cricket, just 15 months after cheating death in a car crash in his home country of India.
Pant, 26, managed to escape after his car went up in flames, with a police superintendent saying he was "lucky to survive" and authorities reporting that he had fallen asleep at the wheel. He was airlifted to hospital after the incident in December 2022 and underwent surgery days later.
The Indian international had been named captain of IPL franchise Delhi Capitals ahead of the 2023 season but took no part in the campaign as he recovered from his injuries. He has represented India in the test, one day and T20 formats, making his test debut in 2018 against England.
Pant suffered injuries to his forehead, a hand and right knee, and underwent multiple surgeries. He missed the 2023 World Cup as a result but is now closing in on a return to competitive sport.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India issued an update on Pant on Tuesday. "After undergoing an extensive 14-month rehab and recovery process, following a life-threatening road mishap on December 30th, 2022, near Roorkee, Uttarakhand, Rishabh Pant has now been declared fit as a wicket-keeper batter for the upcoming TATA IPL 2024," it read.
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Delhi Capitals will begin their 2024 season against Punjab Kings on March 23. Their first scheduled home game is on March 31 against the Chennai Super Kings.
While Pant is poised to return, two other Delhi Capitals players have been ruled out of the IPL. Prasidh Krishna underwent quadriceps surgery in February, and his fellow fast bowler Mohd Shami had surgery to fix a heel issue later the same month.
Are you looking forward to Rishabh Pant's return? Have your say in the comments section
Pant was rushed to hospital and underwent surgery in January 2023 (AFP via Getty Images)"The road to recovery has begun and I am ready for the challenges ahead," Pant wrote on social media in January 2023. "Thank you to the @BCCI, @JayShah & government authorities for their incredible support.
"From the bottom of my heart, I also would like to thank all my fans, teammates, doctors and the physios for your kind words and encouragement. Looking forward to see[ing] you all on the field."
Following Delhi Capitals' statement welcoming Pant back for the new season, several fans shared messages of support. "The king is back," wrote one, with another saying: "We missed you so much".
Last season, with David Warner deputising as captain in Pant's absence, Delhi Capitals won just five of their 14 games and missed out on the playoffs. They have yet to win the IPL outright but did finish top of the league stage in 2021 and reached the final in the previous season.
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