Between 7:30am and 9pm every day, the man is in the operation theatre conducting surgeries and saving lives. Away from the public glare, we don’t really know much about his daily routine. But the moment you ask the Indian sports ecosystem, players swear by him – he is their go-to man. Dinshaw Pardiwala is not just one of India’s best surgeons, he is also the miracle man of Indian sports.
Because of medical confidentiality, there are things that can’t be disclosed in the public domain. That is only fair. Not being a medical expert, you always run a risk when writing on sensitive medical issues. And yet, it is important one recognises Dr Pardiwala.
From Rishabh Pant to Vinesh Phogat, and Pratika Rawal to Shreyas Iyer – the common thread is Dr Pardiwala. Ask Rishabh and you will know the reality. “I always felt I was in good hands,” Rishabh had said to me a few months back. “He was always caring and positive. Never once was I made to feel things couldn’t happen.” Vinesh, who had multiple surgeries in her career, echoed those thoughts. “Dr Pardiwala was fantastic,” she said. “To get me back after Rio was a medical miracle. I will forever be thankful for the support I got.”
Pratika, who is currently being treated by Dr Pardiwala for a broken bone and ligament tear, will know she is in the best hands. If Rishabh can, she can – that will be the mantra. That’s what Dr Pardiwala does – give the athlete the confidence that he or she needs.
Ask him, and he will never want the story to be about him. Sample this from him on the Pant injury. “I am delighted that despite a life-threatening car accident, a complex and difficult knee reconstructive surgery, and a subsequent frustratingly long rehabilitation, Rishabh has reached a state where he has forgotten which knee was operated upon,” he said. “In a world where injuries can end careers, I am happy that the contributions of sports surgery and medical science have enabled Rishabh to convert setbacks into success.
“Comeback stories are inspirational, and none beats that of Rishabh. Whether it’s his return to elite-level cricket after his knee surgery, or his phenomenal back-to-back hundreds following a challenging IPL season, his is a story of resilience and inspiration.”
Nowhere is it about him. And that’s the beauty of it all. Be it in Paris, where he did his best to help Vinesh, or in 2016 when he got her back at a time when many had written her off, it is all about getting things done away from the public glare. Even in the Shreyas case, he was effusive in his praise for the BCCI medical staff. He was clear that the intervention was timely, and the actions taken were proactive and prompt. It was a good job done at the end, with Shreyas having an internal organ tear in the abdomen, which caused bleeding. He is now stable and on the mend. As for Dr Pardiwala, he is back where he belongs – attending to his next surgery and saving lives.
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