Indian cricket star Rishabh Pant, 26, has disclosed the harrowing details of a life-threatening car crash on December 31, 2023, which left his right leg "turned 180 degrees to the right." Pant, the wicketkeeper, underwent multiple knee surgeries and suffered burn injuries, with a potential risk of amputation if nerve damage occurred. He shared the incident for the first time in over a year, highlighting the severity of the situation. Pant, currently focusing on recovery at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, is determined to expedite his return to the cricket field, aiming to reduce the doctor's projected recovery timeline by at least six months.
The doctor has advised Pant that a full recovery may take 16-18 months, emphasizing the seriousness of the injuries sustained. Pant, demonstrating resilience, enlisted the help of a local individual to reset his knee immediately after the crash, averting possible nerve damage and subsequent amputation. Despite the challenging rehabilitation process, Pant remains focused on his recovery at the NCA, isolating himself from the outside world. In a bid to hasten his return, Pant has committed to trimming down the doctor's stipulated recovery period and eyes a potential comeback in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, where he is slated to captain the Delhi Capitals if he fully recovers in time.