"It's a flex that you play for my country" - Birthday wishes pour in on X as Rishabh Pant turns 26

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has emerged as a superstar on the global stage at a pretty early stage in his career. Ever since he set the U19 World Cup alight in 2016, the dashing southpaw was touted for special things and he hasn't disappointed one bit.

The hero of India's famous series win at The Gabba in Brisbane in 2021, he has established himself as India's first-choice wicketkeeper in Tests while also being a regular in the shorter formats.

Pant has been out of the game for a good while now having met with a nasty car accident towards the end of 2022. It has since forced him out of action and hasn't played a single competitive game throughout 2023, having missed all of India's matches across formats as well as the IPL, where he was set to captain the Delhi Capitals.

But he has been on the path to recovery and has been undergoing regular rehab at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.

Wednesday, October 4, marks Pant's 26th birthday, and wishes poured in for the Delhi lad from all quarters including fans and former cricketers, who also hoped for him to make a quick return to the cricket pitch.

Here's a look at some of the wishes that came Pant's way on X (formerly Twitter):

Rishabh Pant recovering at the NCA in Bengaluru

Pant celebrated his 26th birthday at the NCA in Bengaluru, where he has been monitored constantly by physios as he continues his path to a full-fledged recovery. His India and IPL teammates Axar Patel and Prithvi Shaw, who are also recovering from injury, were spotted as part of the celebration.

The left-handed batter had to undergo knee surgery on the back of the car accident he suffered but has made significant progress with time. A video of him playing a practice game in Bengaluru in August went viral as he unleashed some impressive shots along the way.

Pant will not be taking part in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 beginning tomorrow (October 5). Reports have been doing the rounds, however, that he could possibly return during India's home Test series against England commencing on January 25, 2024.

There's no doubt that the wicketkeeper-batter's return will add further wings to a strong Indian outfit across formats.

What is your favorite Rishabh Pant moment from his international career so far? Have your say in the comments section below!

About the author

Sooryanarayanan started off as a non-contracted text commentator at Sportskeeda 3 years ago and is today, the Cricket Commentary Manager. An MBA degree holder, a burning passion for the sport eventually led him to take it up professionally. He also writes insightful Feature pieces from time to time.

Sooryanarayanan sees cricket as a reflection of life’s ebbs and flows, and believes that the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy perfectly showcased it via the determination, courage and the never-give-up attitude displayed on field. He is a staunch Team India supporter and believes that the team has a very bright future. He admires MS Dhoni for how he approaches the sport and life as they come, being unfazed by both victory and defeat.

Sooryanarayanan tries to stick to facts and relies heavily on numerical data to present them. Keeping an objective and neutral view is one of his biggest reporting strengths, along with conducting thorough research and verifying all facts. His exploits in his field have led him to interview some star cricketers like Rovman Powell, Chamari Athapaththu, Deepti Sharma, Grace Harris, Peter Hatzoglou, and more.

When not immersed in Cricket, Sooryanarayanan loves to watch movies and web series, which helps him to focus better when he’s back to work.

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