Kolkata (TIP)- Rishabh Pant is delighted to have made a difficult comeback from the latest injury setback against South Africa. Pant, who sustained a foot fracture during the fourth Test against England at Manchester in July, made his return to competitive cricket during India A’s two unofficial Tests against South Africa A in Bengaluru.
“After an injury, it is never easy to come back. But God has been kind always and he has blessed me always, and this time also, and very happy to be back,” said Pant in a video posted by the BCCI.
“See, every time I take the field, one thing I try to be is to be grateful. That’s why I always look up and thank God, my parents, my family, everyone has supported me (during the recovery phase),” added Pant, who recovered from life-threatening injuries from a car accident to return last year.
Pant said his focus was on keeping his mind in a good space during the rehabilitation period, rather than worrying about external speculation about his future.
“One thing I do is to focus on controllables, luck is one thing that you cannot control. So, I try not to think about that, as there are so many factors that we don’t factor in.”
“But if you can keep your mind in a place where a lot of things are not affecting you, and you focus only on things that matter to you. You will find happiness if you keep on doing things that make you feel good, especially when you are injured,” he said. The 28-year-old said tough times can immensely educative. “Just be in a zone where you feel comfortable, work hard, be disciplined, and be in a zone where you are ready to learn but still enjoying that time doing everything,” he said. “Whatever you are doing you need to enjoy that moment, and give your 100 percent and find joy and happiness in that,” he added.
Shreyas Iyer on road to recovery after surgery
There is an update on Shreyas Iyer’s health, though nothing alarming. Cricbuzz can confirm that the 30-year-old recently underwent surgery and has totally recovered since. As is being reported by Cricbuzz over the past few days, he remains stable and out of the ICU. Sources close to Iyer have informed this website that he required surgery for a spleen injury sustained while taking a catch during the third and final ODI against Australia at the SCG last week. While diving forward to complete the catch on the run, he suffered an awkward fall, which resulted in a ruptured spleen and necessitated immediate surgical intervention.
The surgery was apparently a minor procedure, but it has required Iyer to rest for at least five more days, possibly even up to a week. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Indian team management in Australia, which had assigned him a doctor, have been closely monitoring his condition through Dr. Rizwan Khan, the Indian team physician. The BCCI, it is learnt, is also arranging travel for a member of the Iyer family to Sydney. Iyer has been taking phone calls, eating home-cooked meals arranged by local friends, and even managing his routine chores on his own. An update on his condition was also shared by Suryakumar Yadav.
“We spoke to him at least on the first day when we got to know that he had an injury. I called him first. Then I found out that he did not have a phone. So I called the physio, Kamlesh. He told me that he is stable. On the first day, I don’t know how, but he was looking good. We have been talking for two days now. He has been replying. If he is replying on the phone, it means he is stable.
