Former Indian coach Ravi Shastri has detailed the horrific injuries suffered by wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant in a car accident nearly two years ago.
Pant missed 14 months off cricket but was lucky to escape with his life when crashed his Mercedes SUV north of New Delhi before dawn in December 2022.
He suffered multiple injuries when the car rammed into a crash barrier, flipped over and caught fire.
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The 26-year-old was rushed to hospital before being airlifted to Mumbai for further treatment and surgery.
Pant sustained multiple injuries, none more serious than a badly broken leg, which put his cricketing career in grave doubt.
However, he worked his way back into the Indian side, and will prove to be key to his country’s hopes as they chase a fifth straight Test series win against Australia this summer.
Adam Gilchrist called it a “near death experience” and in response, Shastri, speaking on Fox Cricket prior to the first Test in Perth, says it’s a “miracle” that Pant is playing cricket again let alone walking.
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“Just to see him there makes you believe that miracles can happen because when I went to see him in hospital one month after that injury, he told me his right leg was at a right angle when he got out of the car and he had to push it back into a straight line before going to hospital,” Shastri said.
“It’s a miracle of sorts he can stand on two legs, let alone wicketkeeping and going out to bat because we love to see characters like him.
“He’s a personality and Australian crowds are lucky to have him here playing.”
Pant says the horror accident and subsequent recovery gave him a new-found perspective on life.
“One of the most important things is gratitude for life. Cricket is part of it, but you are looking at things from a different perspective,” he told Fox Cricket’s Mark Howard.
While India’s recent Test record isn’t flash, Pant certainly hasn’t been to blame.
He’s played five Tests since his accident, scoring 420 runs at an average of 46.66.