Mondli Khumalo set to return to professional cricket in less than 12 months after horrifying ordeal

Former South Africa Under-19 bowler Mondli Khumalo suffered from an assault in 2022, which left his brain bleeding for a significant period of time. Following the incident, his cricketing career was thought to be over, but after almost a year of fighting and enduring pain, Khumalo is all set to make his return. Currently, the cricketer will join the North Patherton Cricket Club in Somerset and will be aiming to deliver the goods in order to secure a deal in South Africa next season.

He has already been cleared by a neurosurgeon and is gunning to return back to the field. Rob Humphries, Khumalo's agent stated that he is hoping to get some game time in the ongoing English summer.

“Getting game time under his belt in the UK is an important part of his preparation for the next SA summer. He is buzzing to get back on the field,” Humphries told ESPNcricinfo.

Notably, the 21-year-old is out of action since May 2022 after the cricketer was attacked while celebrating a team’s win outside a pub in Bristol in England. He was left unconscious at the scene and later received emergency medical treatment, which required him to be put into an induced coma for four days. In the meantime, he had to undergo four major operations. Out of which, three were to relieve pressure on the brain, and the fourth one was to replace a piece of the skull that had been removed previously for other procedures.

Meanwhile, a crowdfunding campaign was launched to support his medical expenses and bring his family from South Africa to England. After regaining full conscience, Khumalo was dedicated to making his return to cricket. 10 days later of the operation, his teammate Llyod Irish shared a video of him catching a sponge ball, and since then, he was under rehabilitation to make his comeback. On the other hand, a 27-year-old man has been arrested in connection with Khumalo’s arrest his trial with beginning in the month of October.