India's Rishabh Pant has been nominated for the prestigious Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award. The wicketkeeper-batter is only the second cricketer in history to receive this recognition after Sachin Tendulkar.
Pant earned the nomination for his remarkable return to cricket following a life-threatening car accident on December 30, 2022. While traveling from Delhi to Roorkee, he dozed off while driving. His car crashed into a divider, flipped, and caught fire. Local residents rescued him from the burning vehicle. He suffered severe injuries, including ligament damage in his right knee, wrist and ankle injuries, back abrasions, and cuts on his forehead.
Pant remained out of action for more than a year. He underwent multiple surgeries before making his comeback in IPL 2024 for Delhi Capitals against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur. His strong performances earned him a place in India’s squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. He played a crucial role in India's title-winning campaign under Rohit Sharma’s leadership.
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Pant continued his resurgence in Test cricket with a magnificent century, equaling MS Dhoni’s record for the most centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper. In November 2024, he became the costliest player in IPL history when Lucknow Super Giants acquired him for INR 27 crore.
Now part of India’s squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Pant reflected on his journey after his Laureus nomination. "I have always believed in gratitude and positivity. Surviving the car crash made me realize how fortunate I was. It motivated me to work harder and return as a better version of myself," he said.
Pant added that his return to normal life was only half the battle. "I wanted to complete the circle by playing for India again. In 2024, I returned to Test cricket 629 days after the accident, the same year we won the T20 World Cup," he said.
Nominees for Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award
Rebeca Andrade (Brazil) – Gymnastics
Caeleb Dressel (USA) – Swimming
Lara Gut-Behrami (Switzerland) – Alpine Skiing
Marc Márquez (Spain) – Motorcycling
Rishabh Pant (India) – Cricket
Ariarne Titmus (Australia) – Swimming
