Just over a week away from making a much awaited comeback to competitive cricket, Rishabh Pant said he went through different phases in the 14-month recovery period following his car accident in December 2022; but the most upsetting part was missing the ODI World Cup hosted by India late last year.
However, he took the setback as a challenge by setting shorter goals for himself.
On Monday, Pant was declared fully fit by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which cleared way for him to play for the Delhi Capitals (DC) in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) edition beginning March 22.
Recalling the time when he was close to recovering towards the end of last year, Pant admitted that not playing the ODI World Cup upset him.
"It was very upsetting.
We discussed with the NCA (National Cricket Academy) team that we will take a shot at the World Cup. All of us tried 200 per cent. But my knee couldn’t take the load," Pant told TOI in an exclusive interivew.
"That was where I started pushing myself more. When you start giving yourself shorter goals, that helps in pushing yourself. It’s like building a good Test innings," said Pant.
Pant said it's very satisfying to be officially declared fit, and it was the announcement that he was eagerly waiting for.
"Amazing feeling. This was the thing we were waiting for. It’s been so long. I think you can still cope with a layoff of three to six months. But when it goes beyond that, it starts taking a toll. I just want to go out there and play and have fun. Not thinking about the future too much, because (then) you put too much pressure on yourself. Looking forward to each day as it comes," Pant said in the interview.
The wicketkeeper-batsman has joined the Delhi Capitals camp in Vizag. DC will meet Punjab Kings in their IPL 2024 season opener on March 23 at the newly-built Punjab Cricket Association stadium in Mullanpur.
English (US) ·