India’s Test vice-captain, Rishabh Pant, is eyeing a comeback in the upcoming India vs West Indies series this October after being sidelined due to a foot injury. Pant, who has been out of action since suffering the injury during the England series, also missed the Asia Cup. However, the 27-year-old is now back in India and is closely monitoring his recovery with the help of specialist doctors as he prepares for a hectic cricket calendar ahead.
Rishabh Pant’s Road to Recovery
According to Cricbuzz, Pant has returned to India and has been consulting with doctors in Mumbai after fracturing his foot during the Manchester Test. The injury forced him to miss the remainder of the game and the final Test, and he was subsequently left out of the Asia Cup squad that kicked off on September 9. Pant had stayed in England for a while, still sporting a foot strap, which he shared in a recent social media post.
Looking ahead, the Indian vice-captain is expected to visit the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru soon to continue his rehabilitation as per the timeline suggested by doctors, with the aim of regaining full fitness before the West Indies series.
The Injury That Shook Pant
Pant’s injury occurred when he was struck on the foot by a delivery from Chris Woakes during the first day of the Manchester (fourth) Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Despite the pain, Pant continued to play the next day, his foot fully strapped, and even managed to score a valuable half-century, finishing with 54 runs to help his team.
However, due to the injury, he had to miss the fifth and final Test at the Oval, which India won to level the series. Pant stayed back in England and is believed to have returned to India just a few days ago.
Overcoming Challenges: Pant’s Resilience
Throughout his career, Pant has faced numerous challenges, both on and off the field. Since his injury, the 27-year-old has been regularly updating fans about his recovery process on social media. In one of his recent posts, Pant shared an inspiring message: “I just want to say that no matter how much pain you’ve been through before, getting hurt again still hurts the same. The difference is, you know how to push yourself and handle it. Staying positive is huge, motivating yourself really helps. Keep believing in yourself and keep working towards the life you want. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger in the end.”
Pant’s words resonate deeply, especially considering the obstacles he’s overcome in his life. In 2022, he survived a near-fatal car accident that left him with a serious knee injury, sidelining him for over a year. Even before the foot injury, Pant had battled a finger injury during the third Test at Lord’s, which prevented him from keeping wickets.
With his resilience and determination, Pant is set to make a strong comeback and help lead India to victory in the upcoming series. Fans are eagerly awaiting his return to the field and are wishing him a speedy recovery.
