Gargi Raut in Leeds
Rishabh Pant fought all odds to be where he is today. While we enjoy his theatrics and cartwheel celebrations, only a few understand the extent of the injuries that he sustained in the car accident that left him out of cricket for 15 months. The India vice-captain has been impressive with the bat, scoring two centuries in the same match, in challenging English conditions—a feat no Indian wicket keeper had ever achieved.
From the hospital bed to a twin-centurion in England, Pant has walked a long path and Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala, one of the India’s best sports medicine experts and the Director of Arthroscopy and Shoulder Service at the Kokilaben Hospital in Mumbai, has been instrumental in his comeback. Dr Pardiwala opened up on Pant’s journey and what it meant for him to see him make his return to cricket.
“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,” said Dr Pardiwala.
Pant’s rehabilitation spanned over a year, starting with multiple surgeries, months of physiotherapy, and finally a gradual return to the sport.
“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,” the doctor added.
When the news of Pant’s injuries become public, the real test in subsequent months wasn’t just medical. It was also about whether Pant could return to the demands of international cricket, both mentally and physically. But his performance in England has answered every doubt emphatically. Not only has he regained full fitness but he is also back to the fearless, match-defining form that made him indispensable.
“Comeback stories are inspirational, and none beats that of Rishabh,” said Dr Pardiwala. “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.”
As Pant looked up to the sky after his second century at the Headingley Cricket Ground, one that came right when India needed him the most, it was clear that the moment meant more than just runs. It was a culmination of months of pain, patience and perseverance. Pant’s comeback is a reminder to us all of the power of the human spirit.