Rishabh Pant, always a key guy for Indian cricket

You could well call it a knee-jerk reaction. News of Rishabh Pant injuring his knee in the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru on Thursday, while keeping, did results in the panic button being pressed. Worse, when the Delhi batter did not step out on Friday morning, the rumour mills were agog. By afternoon, Pant was out, took a few throwdowns as well during the tea break. Boy, what a sight to see Rishabh Pant out on the field, that is how important he is to Indian cricket.

Anything Pant does or happens to him generates news, in media as well as social media. Gigabytes of info are thrown out on him, including news of him not being in reckoning for the captaincy of the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025. All that needs to be taken with a pinch of salt. Pant is invaluable to Team India, across all formats. He has to be preserved, for, he is a gem. Yes, the injury he suffered on Thursday was freakish. Sport minus injuries is impossible, though for Pant to take a hit on the same knee on which he underwent surgery and intense rehab of Himalayan proportion before he resumed action is well-known. Now and then there is talk of Pant playing too much cricket. That is a bit too much for critics to say. The importance of Pant is known to all and this think-tank and the BCCI will not push him too hard.

Even before he was out of action for a whole day, all kinds of rumours were flying. Maybe, the panic is understandable, as Pant’s comeback from a car crash in December 22, 2002, near Roorkee was one of the most telling tales. People cried when they saw images of Pant’s car crash and then the champion needing support to walk. The journey is kind of complete, though, to imagine, Pant will never get injured is not possible. He is one of those cricketers who defines bravado and what it means to take chances in whatever he does. That defines Pant, a bloke who loves challenges and doing something against the grain.

In a way, the injury scare has again made cricket fans realise how crucial he is to India. Some thought he had been rushed back into international cricket when he was picked for the ICC T20 World Cup. Not once did Pant exhibit any sign of discomfort as India went on to win the trophy with Rohit Sharma as captain. Irrespective of the course and result of the first Test, Pant will be talked about. He is one crucial cog who will come into play, be it white ball cricket or red ball cricket. And for all those who understand the pranks of Pant and how he can break monotony, he will be much-needed in the tour to Australia for the BGT series. He will be treated with caution and preserved. Pant, himself, may not want to be out of action as he enjoys being in the thick of action. But if workload management rules have to be applied, Pant needs to be given breaks.

At this point of time in Indian cricket, there is scope for two wicket-keepers to be in the mix, with Dhruv Jurel also a talented guy. The temptation may be to ensure Pant plays maximum as he creates such an impact. It may not be with the bat or gloves but even his chatter and needling rival players, that's Pant the prankster. For all those who were sad when Pant got injured, be sure, he is a divine guy in many ways. His recovery was out of the world. And he will continue to show he will keep coming back. One thing Pant does not need is negative publicity. Let him choose what he wants to do in Indian cricket and club cricket – IPL. A gem to be treasured for a long time. Mind you, he still has so much cricket left in him, he can go on to lead India one day. No hurry, for the time being.