In a heartwarming moment, Rishabh Pant reminisced about the support he received during his recovery from a serious car accident. The Indian wicketkeeper-batter recalled a conversation between his mother and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting the well wishes he received during that challenging time. Pant's road to recovery and then T20 World Cup glory was nothing short of a miracle. Doctors initially predicted an 18-month recovery period, but Rishabh, earning the moniker ‘miracle man’, defied expectations. He battled through his rehabilitation and made a remarkable return to competitive cricket in just 14 months. The severity of his injuries, including damage to three major ligaments in his right knee, made his comeback even more impressive. Determined and resilient, the left-handed batsman persevered through the tough times. His fighting spirit paid off when he rejoined the cricketing world in IPL 2024. He dominated the tournament, scoring a powerful 446 runs. This stellar performance earned him a well-deserved spot in the T20 World Cup squad. Pant continued his excellent form on the international stage, playing a crucial role in India's triumphant T20 World Cup win.
Upon returning to India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi felicitated the Men in Blue. During this event, he spoke with Rishabh Pant about his difficult times. The Indian wicketkeeper shared that PM Modi had called his mother in the hospital, and that conversation provided him with mental solace.
“…1.5 years ago, I was going through a very difficult phase. I remember that you called my mother and said everything would be fine, it was then I became a little calm mentally. After that, during recovery, I used to hear from people whether I would ever be able to play cricket or not, wicketkeeping was the main concern as many suggested that I wouldn't be able to keep the gloves again. So for the last 1.5 years, I was thinking that I should come back to the field and do better than what I was doing. I just wanted to prove myself and play for the country and win matches for the country once again," Pant said during the conversation with PM Modi.
PM Modi also recalled the conversation, noting that Pant's mother was very confident about his recovery. At one point, it felt as if she was the one providing reassurance to him.
“When I talked to your mother, I also had a chat with the doctors and asked them whether he was required to be taken abroad for further treatment. Your mother was really confident of your recovery. During the conversation, it seemed like she was giving me the assurance. That time I knew that a person who is blessed with such a mother will definitely achieve something big. The thing which I liked the most was you accepted that it was your mistake, not anyone else's. You could have put the blame on anything else. You are an inspiration for everyone and you truly showed us that you won the war,” PM Modi said.
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