'Possibility of Amputation Scared Me': After Getting Another Life, Rishabh Pant Recalls Horrific Car Crash

Rishabh Pant feared amputation of his right leg in the immidiate aftermath of the horrific accident of his SUV car he was driving from Roorkee to New Delhi on December 30, 2022

The Indiam wicketkeeper-batter recounted the initial moments after the crash, on the Star Sports series ‘Believe: To Death & Back’ which documents his recovery, and that he was in excruciating pain as his right knee had dislocated, turning 180 degrees to the right as he lay face down.

“If there was any nerve damage, there was a possibility of amputation. That is when I felt scared,” Rishabh Pant said.

“I had taken an SUV, but what I was seeing was a sedan,” Pant on his mangled vehicle.

“There was someone around so I asked if he could help getting the leg back in the position. He helped the knee get back in place,” the 26-year-old added.

Two persons Rajat Kumar and Nishu Kumar were able to pull Pant out of his car before it went up in flames.

“It was the first time I had such a feeling in life. At the time of the accident, I was aware of the wounds, but I was lucky as it could have been even more serious,” Pant recollected.

Pant underwent initial treatment at a hospital in Dehradun and was later airlifted to Mumbai where he was under the care of a specialist consultant brought in by the BCCI.

After undergoing surgeries to reconstruct all three ligaments in his right knee, Pant did his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. The big-hitter said the process is boring at best and frustrating at worst.

“I am focusing on recovery cut off from the world. It helps me in recovering fast, especially when the injury is so serious. For recovery you have to do the same thing every day. It’s boring, it’s irritating, it’s frustrating, but you have to do it,” he elaborated.

Pant revealed the doctor had given him 16 to 18 months recovery time.

“Till the time I start playing cricket, I don’t want to plan much for the future. I asked the doctor how long will it take for me to recover. I told him that everybody is speaking different things, but you will give me the most clarity about it.

“He (Doctor) said it would take 16 to 18 months. I told the doctor from whatever timeline you give me, I will reduce six months from it,” said Pant who is likely to play in the IPL for Delhi Capitals this season from March.

(With inputs from Agencies)