Nasser Hussain hails Rishabh Pant as 'Box Office' cricketer, predicts India comeback

Former England captain Nasser Hussain expressed hope for the comeback of India's Rishabh Pant in the upcoming year, tipping the young cricketer to soar to superstar status. Pant, sidelined due to a serious car crash last year, is recuperating strongly, aiming to return ahead of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA.

Hussain, a staunch admirer of Pant's aggressive approach, eagerly anticipates the 26-year-old's return, yearning for his impactful presence in 2024. The wicketkeeper-batter is primed to make a mark with his attacking style, and Hussain, echoing the sentiments of many fans, awaits Pant's dynamic comeback onto the cricketing stage. Besides, he also revealed how the former Australia captain and Delhi Capitals' head coach, Ricky Ponting, has been monitoring Rishabh Pant closely for a long time now.

"That was such a serious accident. The whole world held its breath and it has been a slow recovery. You follow on social media, on my phone and the initial first walking steps to then scenes in the gym and then scenes of him playing a bit of cricket, scenes of him with Ricky (Ponting). I travelled with Ricky in the summer in the Ashes, and Ricky was texting him ‘how's the progress coming along’, and he is a box office cricketer,” said Hussain as quoted by ICC.

December 30 marks a year of Pant’s fatal accident

On the morning of December 30, 2022, a distressing incident shook the hearts of Indian cricket enthusiasts as Rishabh Pant faced a harrowing near-fatal car crash on the Delhi-Dehradun highway. The distressing CCTV footage revealed his vehicle colliding with a divider, somersaulting several times before erupting in flames, while he was en route to celebrate the new year with his family in his hometown.

Miraculously, the Uttarakhand batter managed to escape with the aid of locals but required immediate medical attention. Initial reports from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) disclosed the extent of Pant's injuries, including two cuts on his forehead, a ligament tear in his right knee, injuries to his right wrist, ankle, and toe, alongside abrasions on his back. The incident had left fans in shock but relieved at Pant's survival despite the grievous injuries sustained.