Pant delighted to return to international cricket after injury layoff

India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant expressed his joy at returning to international cricket after being sidelined for nearly four months due to a right ankle injury. Pant, who has been named in India’s squad for the upcoming two-Test series against South Africa beginning Friday at Eden Gardens, said he is grateful for the opportunity to be back.

Pant made his comeback to competitive cricket last month when he captained the India A team in two unofficial Tests against South Africa A in Bengaluru. Before that, he underwent rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, where he completed his recovery and was declared fit for selection.

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“After an injury, it is never easy to come back. But God has been kind always and he has blessed me always, and this time also, and I am very happy to be back,” Pant said in a video shared by the BCCI.

“See, every time I take the field, one thing I try to be is to be grateful. That’s why I always look up and thank God, my parents, my family, everyone has supported me (during the recovery phase),” he added.

Reflecting on his rehabilitation journey, the 28-year-old said he stayed positive by focusing on what he could control.

“One thing I do is to focus on controllables; luck is one thing that you cannot control. So, I try not to think about that, as there are so many factors that we don’t factor in. But if you can keep your mind in a place where a lot of things are not affecting you, and you focus only on things that matter to you. You will find happiness if you keep on doing things that make you feel good, especially when you are injured,” he explained.

“Just be in a zone where you feel comfortable, work hard, be disciplined, and be in a zone where you are ready to learn but still enjoying that time doing everything. Whatever you are doing you need to enjoy that moment, and give your 100 percent and find joy and happiness in that,” Pant added.

During the India A series, Pant posted scores of 17, 90, 24, and 65 in four innings. Earlier, he had injured his toe during the fourth Test of the England series in Manchester. Across seven innings on that tour, he amassed 479 runs, including two centuries and three half-centuries.