As Rishabh Pant gears up for his cricketing comeback in the IPL, the medical team behind his recovery from a harrowing car crash in 2022 lauds the cricketer's extraordinary resilience and determination. Pant's journey back to full fitness after sustaining multiple injuries is hailed as a testament to his mental strength and unwavering spirit.
Pant's anticipated return to cricketing action on March 23 with Delhi Capitals against Punjab Kings marks a significant milestone in his recovery journey. Despite the daunting challenges he faced following the accident, Pant's positive outlook and relentless efforts propelled him towards healing and rehabilitation.
Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala, Director at the Centre for Sports Medicine, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai and the empanneled doctor at the Board of Control For Cricket in India (BCCI) reflected on the severity of Pant's injuries and the subsequent recovery process. He commended Pant's determination to defy the odds and return to competitive cricket, outlining the crucial role played by supportive family members throughout the ordeal.
"As surgeons and as doctors, it's very important for us to inform our patients, their family and all the stakeholders of the actual status of the injury. Rishabh's mother was with him. She was very concerned whether he would ever be able to walk again," Pardiwala revealed in a video on BCCI TV.
"I told her that 'this is such a critical injury and we will definitely aim for him to get back to competitive cricket. But that's going to be a long-drawn process'." However, Pardiwala was left astonished when he saw Pant's confidence as he entered the recovery phase.
'I Can Recover In 12 Months': When Rishabh Pant Showed Remarkable Confidence During Initial Stages Of Recovery
Pardiwala recounted Pant's remarkable confidence during the initial stages of his recovery, showing the cricketer's ambitious timeline for his comeback. Pant's commitment to his rehabilitation regimen at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru was instrumental in his gradual progress towards recovery milestones.
"When I told Rishabh 18 months, he said 'okay, I am going to show you I can do it in 12 months'," he said.
The road to recovery was not without its challenges, as Pant grappled with the complexities of a severe knee injury and the psychological impact of being sidelined from the sport he loved. Dhananjay Kaushik, NCA physiotherapist, recalled the extent of Pant's knee injury and marvelled at his unwavering positivity and determination throughout the rehabilitation process.
Nishanta Bordoloi, the strength and conditioning coach at NCA, noted the transformative effect of Pant's journey on his character, describing him as a resilient and introspective individual.
"It has made him a better human being. He is now respecting life, as a whole, more. It has just made him more resilient and stronger. He was a very good human being, he has become an even better human being now," Bordoloi said.