India cricket star involved in near-fatal car crash receives huge career news
- Rishabh Pant has been cleared to return to cricket
- The India star was involved in a near-fatal car accident
- He has come a long way to a full recovery
Rishabh Pant has been cleared to keep wickets in the Indian Premier League (IPL) from next month after recovering from a horrific car accident.
Indian wicketkeeper Pant was involved in a near-fatal car accident in December 2022, which required him to undergo multiple surgeries and kept him out of the 50-overs World Cup on home soil last year.
Pant crashed his Mercedes SUV north of New Delhi. The car hit a guardrail, flipped over and burst into flames.
He suffered several injuries, including a damaged ligament in his right knee, wrist and ankle injuries and abrasions to his back. Since then he has been undergoing intensive rehabilitation.
Initially, the Delhi Capitals captain was expected to play exclusively as a batsman in the 10-team IPL, which starts on March 22 in Chennai.
Indian star Rishabh Pant has been cleared to make a full return to cricket
The 26-year-old was involved in a near-fatal car accident in December 2022
His SUV overturned and caught fire north of New Delhi, causing multiple injuries
It will be the first time he has played since the accident.
“After undergoing an extensive rehabilitation and recovery process of 14 months… Rishabh Pant has now been declared fit as a wicketkeeper-batsman for the upcoming IPL 2024,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah said in a statement.
A strong performance in the IPL could earn the 26-year-old a place in the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup in June.
Elsewhere, Mohammed Shami will miss the tournament due to heel surgery.
The bowler, who missed India’s recent home match against England and underwent surgery, is doubtful for the World Cup.
Fellow seam bowler Prasidh Krishna has also been ruled out of the IPL due to a quadriceps tendon injury.