India’s dynamic wicketkeeper-batter, Rishabh Pant, has triumphantly returned to competitive cricket, leading the India A side in their recent four-day clash against South Africa A at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. His comeback follows a prolonged period of absence due to a foot fracture sustained during a Test match in England back in June.
Pant described his recovery as one of the most arduous phases of his career, a journey he navigated with unwavering determination. “It was really challenging for me from the start because, you know, I had that fracture in England and had to go through that whole process,” Pant recounted, reflecting on his rehabilitation.
He detailed the meticulous, multi-stage recovery plan, beginning with crucial healing and progressing to intensive rehabilitation at the CoE. “The first part of the process was healing. For the first six weeks, you’re going to heal the fracture first and then you have to come to CoE. That was the plan for the initial phase, and that’s what I did, and the healing went on nicely,” Pant explained.
The 28-year-old was quick to credit the dedicated physios and staff at the Centre of Excellence for their instrumental guidance throughout his rehabilitation. “I started my rehab slowly, went through a little bit of physio work in the initial 10–15 days, slowly getting back to doing my strength, a little bit of rehab, and it all started from there as a second phase for me, and right now I’m here with you fully recovered, thanks to CoE for that,” he added, his voice brimming with gratitude.
Addressing the significant emotional hurdles encountered during his recovery, Pant emphasized that maintaining a positive mindset was paramount. “Being positive is really a mindset thing. During injury, you tend to get demotivated, the energy levels are not great, you are frustrated. But if you can do small, small things that make you feel good, you have to do that part also, especially when you are injured,” he advised.
He further praised the supportive culture fostered by the coaching staff. “When you talk to them, you can feel that warmth that, yes, you’re going through a tough time, you’re doing that rehab, but you can still come out of it with flying colours,” Pant shared, acknowledging their encouragement.
Pant lauded the Centre of Excellence as an exceptional hub for both recovery and training, noting its world-class facilities. “You’ll find one of the best practice facilities also; it’s not just a rehab place. You have three big grounds, you have like 50 wickets for practice, you get center wicket practice. If a person wants to practice here, I think this is one of the best places,” he stated.
The talented wicketkeeper-batter is set to lead India A in both upcoming four-day games, with Sai Sudharsan serving as his deputy in the first match. In his initial outing as skipper, Pant scored 20 runs from 17 balls before being dismissed by Okuhle Cele. Unfortunately, Team India A was bundled out for 234, currently trailing by 105 runs.
(Rishabh Pant reflected on his challenging comeback, highlighting the crucial role the BCCI’s CoE played in making it possible.)