'I want him to recover so that I can go and slap him' - Kapil Dev bares tough love for recuperating Rishabh Pant

As Team India gears up for the Border Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, former Indian skipper Kapil Dev has revealed his tough love for injured wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant. The mercurial batter who was involved in a horrific car crash in December 2022, is not a part of the upcoming series as he is still recovering from his injuries.

Former Indian all-rounder and World Cup-winning skipper Kapil Dev has shared his love for the recuperating Rishabh Pant but also wants to teach the southpaw a lesson so that he does not repeat the mistake in the future. The ex-cricketer feels that Pant's absence has created a headache for the team management ahead of the all-important Border Gavaskar Trophy.

“I have a lot of love for him. I want him to recover so that I can go and slap him and tell him to look after himself. Because of your accident, the entire team is in tatters. I love him, but I am also angry at him. Why do such youngsters of today’s times make such mistakes? 

"There should be a slap for it. First blessings, that he gets all the love in the world, may the almighty give him good health. First that, but after that, like parents have this responsibility to slap the children if they make mistakes,” Kapil Dev was quoted by the Indian Express.

Rishabh Pant shares Instagram story on his road to recovery

Meanwhile, the maverick Indian batter, who sustained several injuries after his car crash on the morning of December 30, gave an update on his recovery after sharing a story via his Instagram handle on Tuesday, February 7. The 25-year-old who underwent two surgeries on his knee following his accident, shared a picture in an Instagram story with the caption, “Never knew just able to sit out and breathe fresh air feels so blessed."

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