6 Most unexpected comebacks in cricket in 2024

<p>Comebacks are better than setbacks - for some, it’s just a great quote, while for a few, it’s a way of life. In 2024, several cricketers scripted comebacks that will be remembered for years to come. In this list, CricTracker discusses some most memorable moments of redemption for cricketers in calendar year 2024. A few of these players came out of retirement to feature for their nation once again, while a few re-earned a place in the dressing room on the back of impressive domestic performances.</p>
<hr>
<h2>Here are six unexpected comebacks from 2024 that got the cricketing world talking:</h2>
<h3>6. Imad Wasim returns to international cricket</h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1718545149350_Imad-Wasim.jpeg" alt="Imad Wasim Unexpected Comeback in Cricket in 2024" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption data-lt-tmp-id="lt-491741" data-gramm="false">Imad Wasim. (Source - Getty Images)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Despite doing well in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) over the years,&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/imad-wasim/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Imad Wasim</a></strong> was not getting an opportunity to play for the national team. He was disappointed and announced early retirement in 2023. However, the selectors reached out to him ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 and upon hearing the plan, Wasim came out of his retirement and featured for the Men in Green in the tournament.</p>
<p>However, things didn’t go as he intended to. The all-rounder failed to live up to the expectations as Pakistan were eliminated from the group stage of the competition. Since then, he wasn’t considered again, and the 36-year-old once again announced his retirement in December 2024.</p>
<h3>5. Washington Sundar's impressive Test return</h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1729772366287_FotoJet-(65).jpeg" alt="Washington Sundar Unexpected Comeback in Cricket in 2024" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption data-lt-tmp-id="lt-777589" data-gramm="false">Ravichandran Ashwin &amp; Washington Sundar. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/washington-sundar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Washington Sundar</a></strong>&nbsp;made his Test debut against Australia in 2021. Since then, he wasn't in the scheme of things, especially with Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav available. However, he made his return to the team in the second Test against New Zealand in Pune.</p>
<p>Since then, Sundar has proved his value and become one of the key players in the set-up. He was the joint-leading wicket-taker in the series against New Zealand, despite playing one match less, and also batted well. He was India’s first-choice spinner in the first Test against Australia in Perth and in the Boxing Day Test, he scored a half-century and stitched a crucial partnership with Nitish Kumar Reddy.</p>
<h3>4. Mohammad Abbas’ Test return</h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1735228356363_FotoJet-(8).jpeg" alt="Mohammad Abbas Unexpected Comeback in Cricket in 2024" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption data-lt-tmp-id="lt-975592" data-gramm="false">Mohammad Abbas. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/mohammad-abbas/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mohammad Abbas</a></strong> made his Test debut in 2017. He was in the scheme of things till 2021 but wasn’t considered for selection since then. He made his return in the ongoing Test series against South Africa and picked up a six-wicket haul at SuperSport Park in Centurion.</p>
<p>After the stunning performance, the 34-year-old is likely to get more opportunities in the longest format. He has played 26 Test matches so far in his career and picked up 97 wickets. He will now hope to keep up with the momentum and be a regular member of the team in 2025.</p>
<h3>3. Mohammad Amir</h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1718131114549_Mohammad-Amir.jpeg" alt="Mohammad Amir Unexpected Comeback in Cricket in 2024" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption data-lt-tmp-id="lt-453420" data-gramm="false">Mohammad Amir. (Source - Getty Images)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Like Imad Wasim, <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/mohammad-amir/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mohammad Amir</a></strong> too retired from international cricket after having a fallout with the management. He questioned former Babar Azam’s captaincy and even though there were talks of him making a comeback before the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, nothing materialized.</p>
<p>However, the Pakistan team management finally convinced him to come out of retirement and play in the T20 World Cup in 2024. The fast bowler kept his differences aside and played his first T20I against New Zealand after almost four years. Meanwhile, in the mega tournament, the 32-year-old picked up seven wickets in four matches at an economy of 4.50 but since then, he wasn’t considered again for any format. Amir once again retired in December 2024.</p>
<h3>2. Sanju Samson’s resurgence&nbsp;</h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1728743165624_Sanju-Samson.jpeg" alt="Sanju Samson Unexpected Comeback in Cricket in 2024" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption data-lt-tmp-id="lt-120108" data-gramm="false">Sanju Samson. (Source - BCCI)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/sanju-samson/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sanju Samson</a></strong> has been in the scheme of things for a long time but never got consistent opportunities in the T20I set-up. Things slightly changed after Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retired from T20 internationals. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill were not available for selection for a couple for the series against Bangladesh and South Africa and it helped Samson get more opportunities.</p>
<p>He played 13 T20Is in 2024, scoring 436 runs. He hit three centuries this season and will be hoping to keep up with the momentum to seal his spot in the playing XI. The upcoming edition of the IPL will be crucial for the cricketer to establish his authority in the format.</p>
<h3>1. Rishabh Pant</h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1731503279079_Rishabh-Pant.jpeg" alt="Rishabh Pant Unexpected Comeback in Cricket in 2024" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption data-lt-tmp-id="lt-120708" data-gramm="false">Rishabh Pant. (Source - BCCI)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Star India cricketer <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/rishabh-pant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rishabh Pant</a></strong> suffered multiple injuries following a car accident on December 30, 2022. There were doubts regarding his cricketing future at one point, but the keeper-batter fought against all the odds and made his return to professional cricket in IPL 2024. He played 13 matches in the cash-rich league, scoring 446 runs, and that helped the cricketer earn a spot in India’s T20 World Cup squad.</p>
<p>He did reasonably well for the team and soon got into the Test squad as well. Pant’s injury and return to the game is one for the history books. He is now completely fit and representing India in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy.</p>
<div class="ct-poll mceNonEditable" id="6777cfe9539921ad8abd2ce6"></div>

<p style="text-align: justify;">Comebacks are better than setbacks - for some, it’s just a great quote, while for a few, it’s a way of life. In 2024, several cricketers scripted comebacks that will be remembered for years to come. In this list, CricTracker discusses some most memorable moments of redemption for cricketers in calendar year 2024. A few of these players came out of retirement to feature for their nation once again, while a few re-earned a place in the dressing room on the back of impressive domestic performances.</p>
<hr>
<h2>Here are six unexpected comebacks from 2024 that got the cricketing world talking:</h2>
<h3>6. Imad Wasim returns to international cricket</h3>
<figure class="image"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1718545149350_Imad-Wasim.jpeg" alt="Imad Wasim Unexpected Comeback in Cricket in 2024" loading="lazy"><canvas class="lt-highlighter__canvas" width="90" height="20" style="display: none; top: 1px !important; left: 185px !important;"></canvas>
<figcaption data-lt-tmp-id="lt-491741" spellcheck="false" data-gramm="false">Imad Wasim. (Source - Getty Images)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Despite doing well in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) over the years,&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/imad-wasim/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Imad Wasim</a></strong> was not getting an opportunity to play for the national team. He was disappointed and announced early retirement in 2023. However, the selectors reached out to him ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 and upon hearing the plan, Wasim came out of his retirement and featured for the Men in Green in the tournament.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">However, things didn’t go as he intended to. The all-rounder failed to live up to the expectations as Pakistan were eliminated from the group stage of the competition. Since then, he wasn’t considered again, and the 36-year-old once again announced his retirement in December 2024.</p>
<h3>5. Washington Sundar's impressive Test return</h3>
<figure class="image"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1729772366287_FotoJet-(65).jpeg" alt="Washington Sundar Unexpected Comeback in Cricket in 2024" loading="lazy"><lt-highlighter contenteditable="false" data-lt-linked="1" style="display: none;"><lt-div spellcheck="false" class="lt-highlighter__wrapper" style="width: 640px !important; height: 22.3843px !important; transform: none !important; transform-origin: 320px 11.1921px !important; zoom: 1 !important; margin-top: 410.081px !important;"><lt-div class="lt-highlighter__scroll-element" style="top: 0px !important; left: 0px !important; width: 640px !important; height: 22px !important;"></lt-div></lt-div></lt-highlighter>
<figcaption data-lt-tmp-id="lt-777589" spellcheck="false" data-gramm="false">Ravichandran Ashwin &amp; Washington Sundar. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/washington-sundar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Washington Sundar</a></strong>&nbsp;made his Test debut against Australia in 2021. Since then, he wasn't in the scheme of things, especially with Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav available. However, he made his return to the team in the second Test against New Zealand in Pune.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Since then, Sundar has proved his value and become one of the key players in the set-up. He was the joint-leading wicket-taker in the series against New Zealand, despite playing one match less, and also batted well. He was India’s first-choice spinner in the first Test against Australia in Perth and in the Boxing Day Test, he scored a half-century and stitched a crucial partnership with Nitish Kumar Reddy.</p>
<h3>4. Mohammad Abbas’ Test return</h3>
<figure class="image"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1735228356363_FotoJet-(8).jpeg" alt="Mohammad Abbas Unexpected Comeback in Cricket in 2024" loading="lazy"><lt-highlighter contenteditable="false" data-lt-linked="1" style="display: none;"><lt-div spellcheck="false" class="lt-highlighter__wrapper" style="width: 640px !important; height: 22.3843px !important; transform: none !important; transform-origin: 320px 11.1921px !important; zoom: 1 !important; margin-top: 410.081px !important;"><lt-div class="lt-highlighter__scroll-element" style="top: 0px !important; left: 0px !important; width: 640px !important; height: 22px !important;"></lt-div></lt-div></lt-highlighter>
<figcaption data-lt-tmp-id="lt-975592" spellcheck="false" data-gramm="false">Mohammad Abbas. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/mohammad-abbas/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mohammad Abbas</a></strong> made his Test debut in 2017. He was in the scheme of things till 2021 but wasn’t considered for selection since then. He made his return in the ongoing Test series against South Africa and picked up a six-wicket haul at SuperSport Park in Centurion.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">After the stunning performance, the 34-year-old is likely to get more opportunities in the longest format. He has played 26 Test matches so far in his career and picked up 97 wickets. He will now hope to keep up with the momentum and be a regular member of the team in 2025.</p>
<h3>3. Mohammad Amir</h3>
<figure class="image"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1718131114549_Mohammad-Amir.jpeg" alt="Mohammad Amir Unexpected Comeback in Cricket in 2024" loading="lazy"><lt-highlighter contenteditable="false" data-lt-linked="1" style="display: none;"><lt-div spellcheck="false" class="lt-highlighter__wrapper" style="width: 640px !important; height: 22.3843px !important; transform: none !important; transform-origin: 320px 11.1921px !important; zoom: 1 !important; margin-top: 410.081px !important;"><lt-div class="lt-highlighter__scroll-element" style="top: 0px !important; left: 0px !important; width: 640px !important; height: 22px !important;"></lt-div></lt-div></lt-highlighter>
<figcaption data-lt-tmp-id="lt-453420" spellcheck="false" data-gramm="false">Mohammad Amir. (Source - Getty Images)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Like Imad Wasim, <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/mohammad-amir/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mohammad Amir</a></strong> too retired from international cricket after having a fallout with the management. He questioned former Babar Azam’s captaincy and even though there were talks of him making a comeback before the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, nothing materialized.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">However, the Pakistan team management finally convinced him to come out of retirement and play in the T20 World Cup in 2024. The fast bowler kept his differences aside and played his first T20I against New Zealand after almost four years. Meanwhile, in the mega tournament, the 32-year-old picked up seven wickets in four matches at an economy of 4.50 but since then, he wasn’t considered again for any format. Amir once again retired in December 2024.</p>
<h3>2. Sanju Samson’s resurgence&nbsp;</h3>
<figure class="image"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1728743165624_Sanju-Samson.jpeg" alt="Sanju Samson Unexpected Comeback in Cricket in 2024" loading="lazy"><canvas class="lt-highlighter__canvas" width="50" height="20" style="display: none; top: 1px !important; left: 379px !important;"></canvas>
<figcaption data-lt-tmp-id="lt-120108" spellcheck="false" data-gramm="false">Sanju Samson. (Source - BCCI)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/sanju-samson/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sanju Samson</a></strong> has been in the scheme of things for a long time but never got consistent opportunities in the T20I set-up. Things slightly changed after Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retired from T20 internationals. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill were not available for selection for a couple for the series against Bangladesh and South Africa and it helped Samson get more opportunities.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">He played 13 T20Is in 2024, scoring 436 runs. He hit three centuries this season and will be hoping to keep up with the momentum to seal his spot in the playing XI. The upcoming edition of the IPL will be crucial for the cricketer to establish his authority in the format.</p>
<h3>1. Rishabh Pant</h3>
<figure class="image"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1731503279079_Rishabh-Pant.jpeg" alt="Rishabh Pant Unexpected Comeback in Cricket in 2024" loading="lazy"><canvas class="lt-highlighter__canvas" width="50" height="20" style="display: none; top: 1px !important; left: 375px !important;"></canvas>
<figcaption data-lt-tmp-id="lt-120708" spellcheck="false" data-gramm="false">Rishabh Pant. (Source - BCCI)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Star India cricketer <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/rishabh-pant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rishabh Pant</a></strong> suffered multiple injuries following a car accident on December 30, 2022. There were doubts regarding his cricketing future at one point, but the keeper-batter fought against all the odds and made his return to professional cricket in IPL 2024. He played 13 matches in the cash-rich league, scoring 446 runs, and that helped the cricketer earn a spot in India’s T20 World Cup squad.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">He did reasonably well for the team and soon got into the Test squad as well. Pant’s injury and return to the game is one for the history books. He is now completely fit and representing India in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy.</p>
<div class="ct-poll mceNonEditable" id="6777cfe9539921ad8abd2ce6"></div>

Comebacks are better than setbacks - for some, it’s just a great quote, while for a few, it’s a way of life. In 2024, several cricketers scripted comebacks that will be remembered for years to come. I

Here's a list of six unexpected comebacks in 2024.

Check out the top five most unexpected cricket comebacks of 2024, featuring players who defied expectations and made a remarkable return to form, only on CricTracker.