 "Rishabh Pant inspires with comeback fifty: 'Whatever happens, I had to be back on the ground'")
Rishabh Pant produced a short cameo in his first match back after a life-threatening car accident in December 2022. It was followed by a laboured 28 runs in the second outing. But, on Sunday, glimpses of the ‘old’ Pant came to the fore when he blazed to a 32-ball 51 against Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL). That was part of the effort which saw Delhi Capitals pick up their first win of the season.
Pant, who was 23 off 23 at one point, changed gears quickly to pick up 28 runs in the next eight balls before slicing a skier to long-off. The knock included four boundaries and three maximums, including his trademark hand-off-the-bat six.
“See, as a cricketer I don’t think about [feeling like being back], but at the same time I have to give my 100% each and every day,” Pant said in the post-match presentation after DC won by 20 runs . “So what I did was I took my time initially because I haven’t played much cricket in the last one-and-a-half to two years so I thought I have to give myself enough time.
“At the same time I kept believing that I could change the match at the end.”
That iconic one-handed six is back 🥹#DCvCSK #JioCinemaSports #TATAIPL #IPLonJioCinema pic.twitter.com/N01gOlTLRM
— JioHotstar Reality (@HotstarReality) March 31, 2024
Impact Shorts
More ShortsHe was asked how long he had waited to be back on the field. “One-and-a-half years,” Pant replied. “Because every day I love to be on the field and this is something I have depended my life on.
“Yes, that one-and-a-half years was a wait but at the same time you’ve got to keep doing what you can as a cricketer and keep learning from it.”
Well played Rishabh pant @RishabhPant17 .. u will remember this innings for a life time .. u have played many brilliant ones and will play even better ones but this story will remain with u always @ParthJindal11 @bcci
— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) March 31, 2024
Pant claimed he never worried about not being able to play cricket again.
“I think I always had self-belief that whatever happens in life, I need to be back on the ground,” he said. “That was the thought process and I never thought about anything else.”
‘You’re not a true human being if you’re not inspired by Pant’
Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson, who represented CSK, Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL, said Pant’s return is inspirational for everyone.
“It’s inspirational, no question about it. To think that Rishabh had the ability to do this tonight, after the injuries that he sustained is unbelievable. You’re not a true human being if you’re not inspired by Rishabh Pant, the way he was able to come out and turn it on like that,” he said on JioCinema.
“It took him a little while to find his feet but once he let those shackles off, he played some ‘Rishabh Pant’ shots, and they were extraordinary. It really was something special.
“I thought it might take him a few games, if not towards the backend of the IPL, to be able to play an innings like that. But knowing him, that doesn’t surprise me. He’s so desperate to be the best he possibly can, and that showed tonight,” he added.
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