“Rishabh will undergo surgery and subsequent procedures for ligament tears and will continue to be monitored by the BCCI Medical Team throughout his recovery and rehabilitation,” the BCCI said in a statement on Wednesday. “The Board will make every effort to aid and expedite the recovery process of Rishabh and will provide him with all the support he needs during this period.”
In Mumbai, Pant will be under the care of Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala, who has previously worked with Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja, as well as with other athletes. Pardiwala is Head – the Centre for Sports Medicine, and Director – Arthroscopy & Shoulder Service at Kokilaben Hospital in Andheri, a Mumbai suburb.
After immediate emergency care at Saksham Hospital in Roorkee, Pant was moved to Max Hospital in Dehradun, where he had plastic surgery on the laceration wounds, facial injuries and abrasions. MRI scans done on his brain and spine that evening returned normal results, but scans of the knee and foot were postponed because of pain and swelling.
It is too early to put a timeframe on Pant’s return to athletic activity and then top-flight cricket. He hasn’t started walking yet. India’s three big assignments in 2023 are the four Tests against Australia at home in February-March, a possible World Test Championship final in England in June, and the ODI World Cup in India in October-November. Pant’s chances of playing the Test series against Australia appear to be slim, though it can’t be ruled out. The other big event is the IPL, in April-May, where Pant captains Delhi Capitals.
* The article was updated after Pant was admitted to the hospital in Mumbai.
