- Thursday, November 28, 2024
By: Shubham Ghosh
The Indian sub-continent on Friday (30) remained witness to a rare camaraderie after India’s national cricketer Rishabh Pant was involved in a deadly car accident that left him seriously injured.
The 25-year-old cricketer dozed off while driving his Mercedes Benz sport utility vehicle at high speed from Delhi to his hometown of Roorkee in the northern state of Uttarakhand earlier in the day. The car rammed into a road divider and caught fire. Pant broke the windscreen of the vehicle to escape what could have been a disastrous outcome. He was rushed to the Max Hospital in Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand for treatment. The wicket-keeper-batter reportedly sustained a number of injuries all over his body.
Wishes came pouring from all over the world after the news broke, including from Pakistan, India’s arch-rivals. A number of cricketers from that country, including current and former, wished Pant a speedy recovery, setting up a commendable precedent.
Former Pakistan captain and one of the country’s best-known pace bowlers Wasim Akram said in a tweet, “Disturbing news on @RishabPant17 accident … wish the young man a speedy recovery and return to cricket. All the prayers.”
Another former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar said in a tweet, “Thoughts & prayers with @RishabhPant17 who had a terrible accident in Dehradun. I hope he recovers soon mentally & physically from this. Lots of love.”
Pakistan batter Ahmad Shehzad posted a tweet saying, “Wish you a speedy recovery @RishabhPant17.”
Shoaib Malik, a former Pakistan captain and one of the country’s noted former all-rounders, tweeted, “Just came to know about about Rishabh Pant’s accident in India. Sending many prayers and wishes for you @RishabhPant17. Wishing you a speedy recovery, get well soon brother… #RishabhPant.”
“Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant’s car met with an accident at around 5:30 am. The incident took place at Mohammedpur Jat near Roorkee. According to what Pant said, he dozed off while driving and as a result the car collided with the divider and caught fire. He was moved to the Roorkee hospital from where he has now been shifted to Dehradun,” Ashok Kumar, director general of police, Uttarakhand, told the media.
Pant was part of the Indian team that won the Test series against Bangladesh 2-0 earlier this month. He scored 93 in the second Test in Mirpur to help India whitewash the hosts.
Pant, however, was dropped from India’s T20I team announced for the series against Sri Lanka and was supposed to join National Cricket Academy for a conditioning programme ahead of February’s home Test series against Australia.
