Rishabh Pant has uploaded a video from the time when he was involved in a severe accident. Following the accident, he underwent a long period of rehabilitation before finding his way back into the game.
He eventually returned to the IPL, captained the Delhi Capitals, played a few good innings, and is now a World Cup champion. India won the T20 World Cup 2024 in Barbados, with Rishabh Pant serving as the team’s wicketkeeper.
Rishabh Pant did not hold back in sharing his story through numerous interviews, detailing his accident, his mental and physical struggles, and his journey back to cricket with the help of his team, management, doctors, and family.
At least five to seven documentaries were made about his recovery process, highlighting his comeback. He also appeared in multiple advertisements for life insurance companies. Some people felt that his accident was overly dramatized, and not everyone appreciated the attention he received just because of his accident.
After winning the World Cup, Rishabh Pant once again uploaded a video on his Twitter with the caption: “Blessed, Humbled & Grateful. 🏆 God has its own plan.”
https://x.com/RishabhPant17/status/1808163941815664758?t=ONMIQdFDzZRq6231XpeAeA&s=19
— Rishabh Pant (@RishabhPant17) March 15, 2022
He received a lot of praise and support from fans for being part of the World Cup-winning team. Pant is undeniably talented, but some fans find it difficult to accept the continuous attention he receives, suspecting it is partly due to his accident.
His performance in the World Cup was not particularly outstanding; he failed in all three knockout matches—the Super 8, semifinal, and final. Yet, he continues to receive significant attention.
Some fans even accuse him of having a very dedicated PR team, projecting him as the next captain of the Indian T20 cricket team. While this is unlikely, his PR team seems to be creating an environment where Rishabh Pant is seen as the best option for India.
However, other players like Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and Jasprit Bumrah have also led Team India in T20 matches and have been successful. They are mature, disciplined, and let their performances speak for themselves.
On the other hand, Rishabh Pant is a fantastic player with an X factor, but there seems to be a tendency in his nature to seek ownership of situations, which is not ideal for long-term cricket success.
Anyone who wants to play cricket for the long term and become a leader needs to be passive and reserved in their nature. So, does all the sympathy and attention Pant received after his accident make sense?
