Punjab Kings captain Shikhar Dhawan recently shared his thoughts on the remarkable recovery journey of Delhi Capitals skipper Rishabh Pant from a severe injury. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has cleared Pant to play as a wicketkeeper-batter for the Capitals in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Pant had been involved in a life-threatening car crash in December 2022, leading to multiple surgeries and his absence from the 50-overs World Cup last year.
Speaking exclusively to Star Sports at the ‘Star Nahi Far’ event, Shikhar Dhawan expressed his joy at witnessing Rishabh Pant’s return to action and highlighted the resilience and determination demonstrated by the young cricketer throughout his recovery.
“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,” Shikhar Dhawan said.
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Dhawan went on to describe the initial months post-accident, emphasizing the intense pain and helplessness Pant experienced. According to Dhawan, Pant required assistance even for basic needs during this period.
“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,” Shikhar Dhawan added.
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Initially expected to play purely as a batter in the 10-team IPL, Pant’s recovery progress has been significant. “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,” stated BCCI secretary Jay Shah. Pant’s successful performance in the IPL might pave the way for his inclusion in India’s T20 World Cup squad.
