‘I had tears in my eyes’ – Ravi Shastri recalls reacting to Rishabh Pant’s 'horrific road accident'

Former India coach Ravi Shastri recalled reacting to Rishabh Pant’s horrific road accident news in December 2022, saying he had tears in his eyes when hearing about it for the first time. Pant suffered multiple injuries in a road accident on New Year’s Eve two years ago when his car crashed into the roadside dividers on the Delhi-Dehradun highway. The crash's impact was so much that the car rolled over two or three times before catching fire. Luckily, the onlookers could break the car’s glass and pull Pant out before it was too late.

Attending the team’s dressing-room-talk-session after India’s close win over Pakistan in New York, Shastri gave the best fielding award to Pant for his handy contributions, including picking three catches and scoring a gritty 42.

While praising Pant for his match-winning performance against the arch-rivals, Shastri rolled back the clock, recalling his first reaction to Pant’s accident news that shook the cricket world.

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When the fielding coach, T Dilip, introduced Shastri to the dressing to present this award, Ravi pointed towards Pant and said, “I had tears in my eyes when I read about his accident.”

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Shastri said when he first looked at Pant in the hospital, it was even worse for him to watch.

Applauding his will to return to the cricket field after more than one year and perform how he did in the first two matches, Ravi said it was so heartwarming.

“It was even worse when I saw him in the hospital. For him to come back from there and be back in the A zone and playing one of the biggest games India vs Pakistan was so heartwarming.”

‘You’re an inspiration for millions’

Ravi said the way Pant returned to his best with the gloves and bat is an inspiration for millions worldwide. Everyone’s aware of Rishabh’s game and what he brings to the table and looking at how he performed in this marquee clash, he deserves loud claps, said Shastri.

“Your batting, everybody knew what you are capable of, the X factor you have, but your wicketkeeping and the range of movement that you have got so quickly back after the operation is a tribute to how much you have worked hard.

“Not just for yourself, it’s an inspiration to millions around the globe that from adversity from the jaws of death you can snatch a win as well. Well done, fantastic keep up the good work and keep going,” Shastri added.

India sits in the top position with four points in two matches and next faces the co-host USA on Wednesday (June 12) at the Nassau County Cricket Stadium in New York.