In December 2022, the cricketing world was shaken when Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant met with a horrific car accident near Roorkee, Uttarakhand. The crash left him with severe injuries, including a ligament tear in his right knee and deep cuts on his forehead. The incident forced Pant out of competitive cricket for over a year. However, thanks to the heroic efforts of two individuals, Rajat Kumar and Nishu Kumar, the outcome could have been much worse.
Rajat and Nishu, workers at a nearby factory, became Pant’s saviors on that fateful day. Although they had no idea who he was at the time, their quick actions ensured his survival. They pulled Pant out of his mangled car and rushed him to a nearby hospital. As a token of his gratitude, Pant later gifted scooters to both Rajat and Nishu, acknowledging their life-saving efforts.
Pant’s childhood coach, Devender Sharma, shared harrowing details about the cricketer’s condition after the accident. “The muscles were hanging out of his body. From the back neck to the lower waist, you could see his bone. It took five hours to put on the bandage. He was given anesthesia twice in the process. His body looked like a piece of wood, peeled completely,” Sharma recalled in an interview.
The two people who saved Rishabh Pant's life after his accident had no idea who he was.@beastieboy07 travels back to India to retrace the steps from Pant's accident to his return, but also much more than that.
The tale of Rishabh's recovery, from those closest to him 🙏 pic.twitter.com/UuzaJBN0QT
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) November 23, 2024
Despite the severity of his injuries, Pant made a triumphant return to cricket. He first appeared in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, leading the Delhi Capitals. Subsequently, he returned to first-class cricket through the Duleep Trophy and secured a spot in India’s Test squad for home series against Bangladesh and New Zealand. Currently, he is playing in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, showcasing his resilience and skill.
Pant’s mother sought help from Umesh Kumar, an independent MLA from Uttarakhand, on the morning of the accident. His recovery journey also received immense support from family and friends, who played a vital role in his rehabilitation.
Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri expressed amazement at Pant’s recovery. “Those two boys were godsent. They saved Rishabh’s life. The decision to take him to Dehradun also saved his life,” Shastri stated. He further added, “If you had seen him, you wouldn’t have given him a chance in hell to play cricket again. He was in terrible shape—battered, bruised, and scarred all over. To recover, play cricket again, and even represent a World Cup-winning team is nothing short of a miracle.”
Rishabh Pant’s journey from near-death to reclaiming his place in cricket serves as a powerful story of human resilience, courage, and gratitude. While his road to recovery was arduous, it is a testament to his determination and the support of those who stood by him during his toughest times.
