When the great batsman-wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant was recovering from injuries sustained in an automobile accident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called his mother and instructed medical professionals to treat him overseas if necessary.
The Prime Minister claimed to have followed Pant’s social media posts, which detailed his recovery process, during a Thursday encounter with the cricket players who had won the T20 World Cup in this country.
In December 2022, Pant was traveling from Delhi to his birthplace of Roorkee when he was in a terrible vehicle accident. He resumed playing professional cricket in the Indian Premier League 2024 after a year of rigorous recuperation and rehabilitation. He also made his debut for India in the recently finished T20 World Cup in the Americas, which India won by defeating South Africa in the Barbados final.
“Your journey of recovery was difficult. I used to see your social media posts, showing you have done this much on this day and this much the next day,” the PM said.
The details of the conversation was released on Friday.
“First I had discussed with the doctors and took their opinion before speaking to your mother. I told them if he needs treatment outside India, please take him and do that,” the PM said.
“It’s amazing that your mother had the confidence. I felt a person who has such a mother will never fail. I had that opinion and you showed that to the world.
“When I spoke to you, you said it the accident was your fault. That is a big thing, you did not give an excuse, like there was a ditch etc. It was your openness. I take note of small things in life and learn from others. You will inspire the people of India.”
Asked by the PM about his mindset during those tough days, Pant said, “It was normal thought process, though it was very tough time. I remembered that because you had phoned my mother and a lot of things were going on in my mind.
“My mother told me that sir PM Modi said there is no problem and that gave me some kind of mental relaxation.
“During that time I also heard people talking about whether I would be able to play cricket again or not, whether I can do batting besides wicket-keeping. I have been thinking in the last one and a half or two years that after comeback I will to do better than earlier and play international cricket again and see India win.”
