In a statement on Wednesday, the BCCI said, “Rishabh will undergo surgery followed by a ligament tear procedure and will be monitored by the BCCI medical team during his recovery and rehabilitation.” “The Board will make every effort to aid and expedite Rishabh’s recovery process and provide him all possible support during this period.”
In Mumbai, Pant will be under the supervision of Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala, who has previously worked with Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja, as well as other athletes. Pardiwala is the head of the Center for Sports Medicine and director – Arthroscopy & Shoulder Service at Kokilaben Hospital in Andheri, a suburb of Mumbai.
After immediate emergency care at Saksham Hospital in Roorkee, Pant was taken to Max Hospital in Dehradun, where he underwent plastic surgery for cuts, facial lacerations and abrasions. MRI scans on his brain and spine that evening gave normal results, but knee and leg scans were postponed due to pain and swelling.
It is too early to set a time frame for Pant’s return to athletic activity and then to 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. The chances of Pant playing the Test series against Australia are slim, although it cannot be ruled out. The other big event is the IPL, in April-May, where Pant captains the Delhi Capitals.
*The article was updated after Pant was admitted to hospital in Mumbai.