Rishabh Pant, India’s wicketkeeper-batter, has been nominated for the famous Laureus World Sports Awards! The 27-year-old will captain the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the 18th Indian Premier League (IPL) season. He is nominated for the World Comeback of the Year award. This makes him the second cricketer ever to be nominated for these awards, joining the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.
Pant has shown incredible strength over the past year. He was in a serious car accident in December 2022, which kept him out of cricket for over a year. But he came back strong, returning to play in the 2024 IPL for Delhi Capitals after 629 days! He had to undergo major surgery for his knee but bounced back and performed well, scoring important runs in games.
In his first match back, he played a key role in India’s victory against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2024. He scored 42 runs, and his performance helped lead India to a thrilling win in New York. After that, he returned to Test cricket against Bangladesh, matching MS Dhoni’s record for the most centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper.
In November 2024, he became the most expensive player in IPL history when Lucknow Super Giants bought him for INR 27 crore.
“Staying Positive”
After hearing about his nomination, Rishabh Pant expressed his belief in staying positive no matter what challenges come his way. He said, “I am thankful for everything God has given me. I focus on being happy and believing in my strength to overcome tough situations. Surviving my car crash made me realize how lucky I am, which pushed me to work hard and come back even stronger.”
Yuvraj Singh, a cricket legend, was inspired by Rishabh’s attitude. He said, “I met Rishabh in March 2023. He was healing but still had a tough road ahead. His positive spirit really stood out to me. It helped him make an amazing comeback when he returned to Test cricket in 2024. He inspires all athletes to keep a positive outlook, especially after injuries