BCCI focussed on Rishabh Pant's return to 'complete fitness' before taking call on competitive comeback: Report

Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant’s recovery from multiple injuries has been “better than expected” with the National Cricket Academy (NCA) seemingly pleased with Pant’s progress. On 30 December, 2022, Pant had sustained multiple injuries in a horrific car crash while travelling from Delhi to his hometown Rourkee.

“Pant’s recovery has been on point, in fact better than expected. The concern was how the knee and ankle would react after the injury. Especially the knee after ligament tears and surgeries. Both ankle and knee engagement has been on point and that was a big positive considering they are going to bear a lot of load during wicketkeeping. The load on the body will be gradually increased now and running at 100% intensity is likely to begin from next week,” a source close to the development told News18 CricketNext.

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The accident left him out of competitive cricket for several months. Pant missed the IPL 2023, Border-Gavaskar trophy, World Test Championship final as well as the ODI World Cup. Pant eventually underwent surgeries for a ligament tear in his right knee, and had been on the road to recovery at the NCA in Bengaluru.

Under the watchful eyes of the NCA, Pant has also been running both on the ground as well as on the treadmill although he is yet to reach a level of high intensity.

“As I said, running – ground and on the treadmill – has begun but it’s not high intensity yet. Say 80-90% but not full intensity yet. There are sessions on the spin bike too but right now it’s more about getting the body ready for those pressure tests – high intensity training and match simulations.

“So lifting and muscle work has also begun to add strength. He has started compound exercises, the ones which work on multiple muscle groups at the same time, and lot of attention is being paid to lower-body strength and conditioning,” a source told News18 CricketNext.

According to News18 CricketNext, Pant could be match ready when India take on England in a five-match Test series starting in January, but both BCCI and NCA are unlikely to let Pant return in the longest format. Having said that, the BCCI might take a patient and cautious approach with Pant, similar to what they did with the injuries of Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya.

“Don’t be surprised if Pant becomes ready around the England Tests. But even if he does, the NCA is likely to use the shortest format to ease him back into action. Just like they did with Bumrah who first played T20Is vs Ireland before playing the 50-over format. The manner in which both NCA and BCCI handled Pandya and Bumrah, similar approach will be followed with Pant. The bigger picture and complete fitness of Pant is important. So IPL looks like a viable option for now,” the source added.

Pant has been supported well by the BCCI, particularly the board’s secretary Jay Shah. Shah had arranged for an air ambulance from Dehradun to Mumbai once the seriousness of the injuries were known. Pant had undergone treatment and surgery at the Kokilaben Dhirubai Ambani Hospital and Medical Research Institute.

NCA head VVS Laxman and Dr Nitin Patel, Head Sports Science and Medicine at NCA, along with team physios and strength and conditioning coaches have made sure of Pant’s seamless recovery to full fitness from the injuries.

Pant last played for India in a Test against Bangladesh in December 2022, just days before the accident.