In the "Comeback of the year" category of the Laureus World Sports Awards 2025, India's wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant has been nominated. Pant survived a near-fatal vehicle accident on December 30, 2022, and made a spectacular return to the cricket field after a year-long injury layoff. After the great Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, he is now the second player to receive a nomination for the coveted Laureus Sports Awards. Following a public fan poll, the batting mainstay was awarded the Laureus Sporting Moment Award (2000-2020) for India's victory in the 2011 ODI World Cup.
Rishabh Pant gets nominated
Along with Swiss ski racer Lara Gut-Behrami, American swimmer Caeleb Dressel, Spanish motorbike racer Marc Márquez, Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmushave, and Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade, Pant has been nominated. On April 1, 2025, the award winners will be revealed. As a member of India's 2024 T20 World Cup victory, Pant had a great 2024 on the cricket field.
Against Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Ireland, the dynamic batter made significant contributions. Pant's deft decision to pretend to be injured in order to postpone the action after the 16th over of South Africa's innings enabled India regain the upper hand and come back into the match during the tense championship final.
In his return in red-ball cricket after more than 20 months, he scored 109 against Bangladesh in Chennai, smashing a spectacular comeback century. With 261 runs from six innings at an average of 43.50 and three half-centuries, he was also the top scorer during India's 0–3 thumping at home against New Zealand.
Sportsman of the Year nomination
A number of elite athletes from the sports world have also received nominations for the Laureus World Sports Awards. These include tennis player Carlos Alcaraz, motorsports racer Max Verstappen, and pole Vaulter Mondo Duplantis, who are all vying for the title of "Sportsman of the Year." Conversely, tennis player Aryna Sabalenka and gymnast Simone Biles are among the "Sportswoman of the Year" nominees.
