‘Second lease of life’ – Rishabh Pant bares his soul in a tell-all interview post near-fatal accident
Rishabh Pant spoke candidly about the car crash he was involved in December 2022 and his subsequent road to recovery.
It’s been an arduous and trying 12+ months for Rishabh Pant, who admitted to having been fortunate to have a second life after the fateful dawn of 30 December 2022.
While driving from Delhi to Roorkee, Pant's car collided with the divider and eventually ignited. Fortunately, he was rescued from the vehicle before any serious harm occurred.
During a candid conversation with Star Sports regarding the car crash, Pant openly shared: "First time in my life I had that feeling of letting it go. I felt my time in this world was over."
"It was the first time I had such a feeling in life. At the time of the accident, I was aware of the wounds, but I was lucky as it could have been even more serious."
Following initial treatment in Dehradun, Pant was airlifted to Mumbai for further consultation, under the care of BCCI's specialist consultant.
The journey to recovery at the National Cricket Academy has been extensive since the surgical repair of the three ligaments in Pant's right knee, along with addressing various other injuries.
However, there’s finally light at the end of the tunnel as Pant is anticipated to make a comeback and represent Delhi Capitals in the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
"I am focusing on recovery cut off from the world," said Pant, who has been spotted batting in the nets at the NCA in Bengaluru. "It helps me in recovering fast, especially when the injury is so serious. For recovery, you have to do the same thing every day. It's boring, it's irritating, it's frustrating, but you have to do it.
"Till the time I start playing cricket, I don't want to plan much for the future. I asked the doctor how long will it take for me to recover? I told him that everybody is speaking different things, but you will give me the most clarity about it. He said it would take 16 to 18 months. I told the doctor that whatever timeline you give me, I will reduce six months from it."
Expressing profound gratitude, Pant acknowledged Rajat Kumar and Nishu Kumar for rescuing him from the wreckage before the car caught fire.
In the immediate aftermath, Pant discovered that he had dislocated his knee and received assistance in pushing it back into place.
Recalling the harrowing details of the incident, Pant shared, "If there was any nerve damage, there was a possibility of amputation. That is when I felt scared."
The 26-year-old expressed gratitude to fans worldwide for their love and support during a challenging period, acknowledging the positive impact it had on his recovery.
"So many people sent their love and blessings, which was very helpful."