Pant’s battered state moved Shastri to tears

Rishabh Pant takes a catch to dismiss Pak’s Fakhar Zaman. Pic/AFP

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has revealed that the news of Rishabh Pant's life-threatening car accident in 2022 had left him in tears and it felt "even worse" when he saw the charismatic wicketkeeper in hospital at that time.

Ravi Shastri

After a year of intense recovery and rehab, he returned to professional cricket during the Indian Premier League this year and made his Team India return this month in the ongoing T20 World Cup in the Americas. "I had tears in my eyes when I read about his accident. And when I saw him in hospital, it was even worse," Shastri said in a video posted by BCCI. "And then for him to come back from there and be back in the A-zone playing one of the biggest games of all time - India v Pakistan - is heartwarming," he added referring to India's six-run win on Sunday in which Pant made 42.

Following the match, Shastri presented him with BCCI's Fielder of the Match recognition. "Batting... everybody knew what you were capable of - the X-factor you have. But, your wicketkeeping and the range of movement that got back so quickly after the operation is a tribute to how much you worked hard. "And not just for yourself, it's an inspiration to millions across the globe that from adversity and jaws of death, you can snatch a win as well. So, well done, fantastic," he said.

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