India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant felt his “time in this world” was over when he met with a horrific car accident in December, 2022. Opening up for the first time on the life-threatening accident near his hometown Roorkee, Pant said he nearly felt he would die after his Mercedes burst into flames after hitting a divider on the wee hours of December 30, 2022.

The accident left Pant with a ligament tear in his right knee and two cuts on his forehead and the 26-year-old stumper has been out of action since then. (‘One Day We Will Miss Virat Kohli, The Captain’, Ex-IND Cricketer’s Post From 2021 Goes Viral After India Lose 1st Test Vs England)

“First time in my life I felt like my time in this world is up. During the accident I was aware of the wounds, but I was lucky as it could have been even more serious,” Pant told Star Sports.

A passerby rescued him from a burning car, and he was swiftly transported to a local hospital for urgent medical attention. His injuries included head, back, and foot injuries, with two cuts on his forehead, a ligament tear in his right knee, and injuries to his right wrist, ankle, and toe, along with abrasions to his back.

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Following initial treatment in Dehradun, the BCCI arranged for his airlift to Mumbai’s Kokilaben Ambani Hospital, where he underwent surgery for his knee injury.

Throughout his recovery phase, Pant was unable to participate in crucial Indian team events such as the Australia Test series, IPL 2023, WTC Final, Asia Cup, and ODI World Cup. Instead, he focused on recuperation at the NCA, receiving dedicated attention from the medical staff.

“I was feeling that someone saved me. I asked the doctor how long will it take for me to recover, he said it would take 16-18 months. I knew I had to work hard to cut this recovery time,” he added. (India vs England: Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul Ruled Out Of 2nd Test; Sarfaraz Khan Finally Gets Maiden India Call Up)

The accident forced Pant to undergo a surgery in Mumbai and he is expected to return to action in the IPL. Pant is expected to lead Delhi Capitals in the upcoming IPL after he was part of the franchise delegation during the IPL 2024 Auction in Dubai last year. (With PTI inputs)