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India skipper Hardik Pandya has finally reacted on teammate Rishabh Pant's horrific accident ahead of the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka. On Monday (January 2), the eve of the first T20I match against the Island Nation, Hardik rued Pant's accident and termed it unfortunate.
Pant met with a car accident on Friday (December 30). Apparently his car crashed into a roadside divider near Roorkee when Pant was going to surprise his mother for the New Year. The accident occurred around 5.30 am when Pant's car banged into the divider of the road and flipped over before catching fire. He was driving towards his hometown Roorkee in Uttarakhand from Delhi.
Rishabh Pant absence in long term team plans for World Cup
“What happened is very unfortunate. No one had any control. We wish him all the best. Love and prayers are with him. We wish him a speedy recovery. He was very important but we know where the situation stands. I am seeing that if Rishabh would have been there, it could have made a big difference,” Hardik said in the pre-match press conference.
Pant suffered cuts on his forehead, a ligament tear in his knee and several other injuries on his wrist, legs, and back, according to an official statement.
Meanwhile, Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) director Shyam Sharma revealed that Pant has been shifted from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to a private room over 'fear of infection'. The star Indian wicketkeeper-batter, who was involved in a horrific car accident, is currently admitted to a private hospital in Dehradun.
"Yesterday evening doctors shifted Pant to a private ward so that there is no chance of infection," the DDCA director told Sports Tak.
"As of now, he is recovering well. Till the time of his recovery, he will be at Dehradun hospital and later BCCI will take the call for his ligament treatment and whether he needs to be shifted overseas or not. A call will accordingly be taken on his plastic surgery," he added.
Earlier, Sharma urged people and VIPs to avoid any sort of contact with Team India wicketkeeper-batter to avoid the chance of infection.
"Those who are going to meet Pant should avoid, as there are chances of infection," ANI had quoted DDCA official as saying.
"There should be no VIP movement to meet Pant, and people visiting him should avoid it as there are chances of infection for Pant," Sharma further added.
In the pre-match press conference, the star all-rounder, who has been entrusted with a task to lead the Indian side in the T20I series versus Sri Lanka, also spoke on the Team India's plan going ahead.
Plans going ahead
“The plans are set. We are looking to play a certain way which we will. Before IPL, there are only six games. We don't have much time to do a lot of things. Going forward, we will create new plans and we will stick to the ones that are working for us. Going forward, Everyone gets ample opportunities.”
Role identification for the players
“That was there before also and it is there now as well. That is something that I believe in my team. Everyone should know what are their roles and what I expect from them.”
Identifying himself
“One year back, things were different. It has been a magical year for me. I would have liked the World Cup win also. There is a lot to achieve. I have not achieved anything. Multiple world cups in multiple years and the ultimate goal is winning the World Cup.”
Handling the bowling department - especially Umran?
“He has pace (Umran Malik). He is an exciting prospect. We will give him the support and give him enough backing so that he can flourish. Just bowl good balls, that is the mantra I am giving to my fast bowlers.”
Different squad from WC, how you will handle the new players? Tweaking T20 template
“Before World Cup, we did nothing wrong. Our template, approach was the same. In World Cup, things did not go in our favour. Our approach was not exactly what it was before the World Cup. What we have noticed is that we have told the boys - Just express yourself. I will back them to the hilt. They are the best cricketers in the country and that is why they are here. I have to make them believe that and that is the fact. It is important for me to make them believe that they are the best. If I can get that confidence in them, they will flourish and have amazing careers.”
Increased workload from the last IPL
“I know the language of hard work. I know nothing else. I have been thrown here and there. Hard work has gotten me back. I have to look after my body. Injuries is part of the game. I am confident about the way I have handled things. The only thing I will focus is that I will give my body ample chance to be there and also perform to the best.”
India's squad for Sri Lanka T20Is: Hardik Pandya (Captain), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (VC), Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi and Mukesh Kumar.
India's squad for Sri Lanka ODIs: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya (vice-captain), Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umran Malik and Arshdeep Singh.
The schedule
Date Match Details Venue Time (IST)
January 3 India vs Sri Lanka, 1st T20I Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai 7:00 PM
January 5 India vs Sri Lanka, 2nd T20I Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune 7:00 PM
January 7 India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd T20I Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot 7:00 PM
January 10 India vs Sri Lanka, 1st ODI Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati 1:30 PM
January 12 India vs Sri Lanka, 2nd ODI Eden Gardens, Kolkata 1:30 PM
January 15 India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd ODI Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram 1:30 PM
