Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant, who has been recovering from injuries sustained in a serious car accident last December, is progressing at a faster pace than anticipated, surprising the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the medical staff at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.
According to a report on ESPNCricinfo, the BCCI is aiming to expedite Pant's rehabilitation to potentially have him ready for the upcoming ODI World Cup in October-November, although the recovery process is expected to take longer.
Pant is reportedly experiencing minimal pain and is currently focusing on increasing his mobility exercises, both for his lower body and upper body, under the guidance of physio S Rajnikanth. Rajnikanth, who has worked with various India age-group teams and the Delhi Capitals, has previously aided the recoveries of Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and M Vijay from serious injuries. Thulasi Ram Yuvaraj, another NCA physio, has been with Pant since he was airlifted to Mumbai after the car crash.
The 25-year-old Pant recently shared a video on his social media account showing him climbing stairs unassisted, further highlighting his progress.
The report also mentioned that Pant's rehabilitation program includes aqua therapy, light swimming, and table tennis sessions. He has been interacting with young male and female cricketers attending training camps at the NCA, conducting interactive sessions with them.
Pant's last appearance on the field was during India's Test series victory over Bangladesh in December 2022. During his recovery period, he has remained positive and engaged, watching the recent World Test Championship final alongside fellow India players Jasprit Bumrah, Shreyas Iyer, and Prasidh Krishna, who are also undergoing rehabilitation at the NCA.
Additionally, the report indicated that the NCA medical staff is optimistic about the availability of Jasprit Bumrah and Shreyas Iyer for the upcoming Asia Cup, scheduled from August 31 to September 17.
Bumrah, who has been sidelined with a recurring back injury since the T20Is against Australia last year, underwent surgery in New Zealand in March. He is currently undergoing physiotherapy and gradually increasing his bowling workload.
Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer, who faced a bulging disc issue in his lower back, had to withdraw from the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in March. He underwent surgery in London in May and is now undergoing physiotherapy as part of his recovery process.