3 Players who met with deadly accidents but made a great comeback like Rishabh Pant

There was a time when cricket was considered an easy game, where you just needed to go on the field and play with full energy and excitement. But in today’s era, the Gentlemen’s Game is regarded as the second most popular sport in the world. It has everything a cricket fanatic could want, from the excitement of a match going down to the final ball to the patience required in Test cricket, which can last five days. However, keeping yourself fit and consistently performing is not everyone's cup of tea—it requires a lot of dedication and commitment to succeed as a cricket player.

Sometimes, despite performing well, you might not be picked for the team. This doesn’t mean you're not worthy; it could simply be due to the team’s playing combination. In such difficult circumstances, you need to motivate yourself to push beyond your comfort zone and continue playing the game you’ve loved for years.

Several international cricketers have made incredible comebacks, even when no one expected it. The latest name on this list is Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant, who was out of the game for almost two years due to a horrific car accident while traveling to his hometown, Roorkee, after the Bangladesh series. In this accident, he suffered severe injuries and was unable to walk for six months. The entire cricketing world, including former players, expressed doubts about his future in the sport, with some saying it was unlikely he would ever play again.

But Rishabh Pant never lost faith. He believed that once he recovered, he would play for the nation again. He dedicated himself to the recovery process, practicing yoga and meditation to stay calm. For a youngster with a broken leg and an uncertain future, especially after showing such promise with heroic performances against Australia and England, it was a challenging journey. Yet, Pant never gave up.

After remaining out from the geme for 16 long months. The Delhi-born batter he made a strong comeback to the Indian squad after an impressive performance in the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League, where he was among the leading run-scorers, scoring 446 runs in 13 games with an average of 40 and 3 fifties to his name.

His incredible performance with the bat and crucial wicket-keeping behind the stumps led to his return to the Indian team in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. Rishabh Pant has been in sensational form since his return to the Indian side in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. He was among the leading run-scorers for the Men in Blue with 171 runs in 8 games, averaging 24 and including 1 half-century to his name. 

However, He isn’t the only cricketer to make a heroic return. Here are a few more players who proved the saying true: "A comeback is always greater than a setback."

1. Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi

At number one, we have former Indian captain Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, also known as "Tiger Pataudi" for his incredible achievements. Appointed captain of the Indian team at the age of just 21, he belonged to a royal family and carried an aura of leadership. However, his journey was far from easy. In 1961, at the age of 20, Pataudi was involved in a road accident that resulted in a severe injury to his right eye, causing him to lose vision in that eye. Despite this, he continued playing for India and led the team with just one functioning eye. He played 46 Test matches, scoring 2,793 runs with an average of 34, including six centuries.

2. Oshane Thomas

Another player on this list is West Indies cricketer Oshane Thomas. Like Pant, Thomas also experienced a life-threatening accident. In February 2020, he was involved in a serious car crash in Jamaica, where his vehicle overturned. He was rushed to the hospital but made a remarkable recovery, later returning to play for the West Indies national team. So far, he has played 25 ODIs and 21 T20Is, taking 31 and 21 wickets, respectively.

3. Nicholas Pooran

Lastly, we have another West Indian cricketer, Nicholas Pooran, known for his power-hitting and his record of most sixes in a calendar year. However, at the age of 19, Pooran faced a devastating car accident in January 2015 in Trinidad. He injured his left leg’s knee and ankle, and doctors even considered amputation if his condition didn’t improve. Fortunately, Pooran underwent two surgeries and made a full recovery. He later made an extraordinary comeback to the national team. Till now, he has represented the West Indies national cricket team in 98 T20Is and 61 ODIs having more than 4000 runs with 3 hundreds and 25 half-centuries to his name.