New Delhi: Cricket fans were left gasping for breath in December 2022 when Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant became the victim of a horrific car crash. In the near-fatal accident near Roorkee, Pant had suffered a ligament tear in his right knee and two cuts on his forehead.
But he had to miss competitive cricket for over a year. Things could have been worse, if two men—Rajat Kumar and Nishu Kumar, workers of a nearby factory—hadn’t come to the rescue of Pant on the fatal day.
The duo dragged Pant out of his car and took him to the nearby hospital. This was revealed in a video posted by 7Cricket, journalist Bharat Sundaresan, who had caught up with Rajat and Nishu. When the duo was rescuing Pant, they didn’t even know who he was. After Pant recovered, he reportedly gifted scooters to both of them to express his gratitude.
Rishabh Pant gifted two wheeler vehicle to Rajat and Nishu ❤️
Thank you Rajat and Nishu ( They were the first responders on that horrific day ). We are indebted to you.#RishabhPant pic.twitter.com/Zb3Haj75zF— Naman (@Im_naman__) November 23, 2024
Pant’s childhood coach Devender Sharma was also seen talking about Pant’s plight at the hospital in the 7Cricket’s video piece.
“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 anaesthesia twice in the process. His body looked like a piece of wood, peeled completely,” Sharma had told in the interview.
Making a comeback after the trauma, Pant returned to competitive cricket and has emerged as India’s MVP in the longest format of the game. He made his return to competitive cricket during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 and led the Delhi Capitals.
Former Team India head coach Ravi Shastri had earlier said no one would have given Pant a chance in hell, had they seen his injuries when he had met with the accident. Many believed that the duo who saved him were god sent.
“Honestly if you had seen him you would not have given him a hope in hell to play cricket again. I will never forget it. He was in terrible shape. I went to see him in hospital a month after he was injured. He was battered and bruised, scarred all over,” Shastri had said, as quoted by news.com.au.