Rishabh Pant: Biography, Education, Career Highlights

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Recently, BCCI cleared Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant to play in the IPL 2024. Pant, who last played senior cricket in December 2022, will be the wicketkeeper for Delhi Capitals.

 

 

 

 

 

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Pant suffered multiple serious injuries in the car accident that left him unfit to play cricket for nearly two years. From getting booed off the field in 2019 to becoming the hero at the Gabba Test in 2021 this wicket-keeper batter has seen it all. Let’s dive into the biography of India's very own 'Spidey'- Rishabh Pant.

Rishabh Pant Biography

"When you come from a small town to Delhi to play cricket as a 12-year-old, but you don’t have a place to stay and you end up sleeping on the floors of a Gurudwara, that means you are a fighter that never gives up."

This pretty much sums up the life of Rishabh Pant. Here are some key facts about this Indian batsman:

Born on 4th October 1997 in Roorkee, Uttarakhand to Rajendra Pant and Saroj Pant, Rishabh Pant wanted to be a cricketer since childhood. He would travel with his mother to Delhi during the weekends to train with the popular cricket coach Tarak Sinha at the Sonnet Cricket Academy. Having no suitable accommodation in the city, he and his mother stayed at a Gurdwara in Moti Bagh. 

Why Rishabh is called Spidey? Pant has been called the 'Spiderman' of Team India after a stump mic captured him singing the Spiderman song during a test match against Australia!

Step by step, Pant worked on perfecting his batting technique. His turning point? It was when he was playing U-19 cricket for Delhi against Assam and he became the top scorer. As per Pant, this was the most important moment at the beginning of his career.

Also Read: Rohit Sharma Biography & Education Details You Have Never Heard Before

Education Qualifications of Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant did his schooling at the Indian Public School, Dehradun. He completed his B.Com from Sri Venkateswara College, Delhi University, New Delhi. With his prime focus on cricket, Pant practiced and participated in various tournaments along with his studies. In 2016, he participated in the under-19 Cricket World Cup where he hit an 18-ball fifty against Nepal, the fastest at this level.

Rishabh Pant's Journey: From Boos to Standing Ovations

Rishabh Pant's life has been flanked by ups and downs. From struggling with consistency and weight issues to being a match-turner, Pant has seen it all.

Pant made his first-class debut in the 2015–16 Ranji Trophy and his List A debut the next month in the 2015–16 Vijay Hazare Trophy. In the 2016–17 Ranji Trophy, Pant scored 308 runs, becoming the third-youngest Indian to score a triple century in first-class cricket.

In 2016, Pant scored the fastest century in the Ranji Trophy, from just 48 balls against Jharkhand.

In 2017, Pant took over Gautam Gambhir as the captain of the Delhi team for the Vijay Hazare Trophy. In 2018, in the T20 league zonal match between Himachal Pradesh and Delhi, he scored his second-fastest century, making 100 from just 32 balls!

Pant was named in the Twenty20 International (T20I) squad for the series against England in 2017. He was the then youngest player to debut for India in a T20I match at the age of 19 years 120 days.

In 2018, he made his Test debut against England and became the first batter for India to get off the mark in Test cricket with a six in the series. He also scored his maiden test century in this tournament. In the consequent year, Pant became the first wicket-keeper for India to score a century in a Test match in Australia.

Rishabh Pant's wicket-keeping prowess: In 2019, Pant became the fastest wicket-keeper for India to affect fifty dismissals in Test cricket.

From dip in form to making it big!

During the 2019-2020 period, Rishabh Pant delivered ordinary performances on various fronts, thus getting heavily criticized by cricket fans. 

The 'booing' incident: In 2019, during India's second T20I against the West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram, crowds ruthlessly trolled Pant when he dropped a catch of Evin Lewis. Some parts of the crowd started heckling the left-hander, some even chanting former skipper and wicker keeper MS Dhoni's name. This reaction left the then-India captain, Virat Kohli agitated. He urged the crowd to back the young Indian player.

But the lean period didn't seem to stop the young wicketkeeper-batsman. He was consistently working hard to get back in shape and form. When India toured Australia in 2020, Pant was seen training with fielding coach R Sridhar during the breaks. And his determination did pay off. 

Pant's majestic return: Rishabh Pant is known for his batting heroics against Australia in a historic run chase on the fifth day of the Gabba Test. India chased down a record target to win the Border-Gavaskar trophy with three overs and three wickets to spare on the last day of the series. Pant scored an unbeaten 89 as India chased down 328 runs to win the Gabba Test and series. He won the Best Batting Performance of the Year Award 2021 from Espn Cricinfo for his batting abilities.

The 2021 car accident

In December 2021, Rishabh Pant was driving alone on the Delhi-Dehradun highway near Roorkee, India, when his car collided with a road divider. The cause of the accident remains unclear but Pant later claimed he hit a pothole or some kind of obstruction on the road, causing the car to swerve and crash. Locals also supported this claim.

The car reportedly hit the divider at high speed and caught fire. Despite the severity of the accident, Pant managed to escape the burning vehicle. He sustained multiple injuries, including:

• Cuts on his forehead
• Ligament tear in his right knee
• Injuries to his right wrist, ankle, toe, and back
• Abrasions on his back

Repercussions on his Cricketing Career:

Because of the accident, Pant had to step back from playing cricket for two years, from 2022 to 2023

• Missed Playing Time: The accident and subsequent recovery forced Pant to miss a significant amount of playing time. He couldn't participate in several matches, including the 2022 tour of South Africa and the Sri Lanka series at home.
• Recovery and Return: Pant underwent treatment and rehabilitation. News reports from early 2024 suggest he is recovering well and will play in the 2024 IPL season.

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Rishabh Pant (@rishabpant)

Indian Premier League

Rishabh Pant's aggressive batting style and counterattacking approach set this Indian batsman apart from others. Owing to his injuries, his performances were sorely missed during IPL 2023.

Pant is now all set to return for IPL 2024.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is Rishabh Pant's batting style?

Rishabh Pant is an aggressive left-handed batsman known for his powerful strokeplay and ability to score quickly.

2. Has Rishabh Pant represented India in all formats of cricket?

Yes, Rishabh Pant has represented India in Test, ODI, and T20I formats.

3. What is Rishabh Pant's net worth?

While estimates vary, his net worth is reportedly around $5 million as of 2021.

4. How old is Rishabh Pant?

Rishabh Pant was born on October 4, 1997. He is 26 years old.

5. What is Rishabh Pant's highest Test score?

As of March 2024, Rishabh Pant's highest Test score is 159 (not out). He achieved this score against Australia in Sydney during the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

6. Which teams does Rishabh Pant play for?

Rishabh Pants will be playing for the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024. He is also part of the Indian national team.

7. When did Rishabh Pant get in an accident?

In December 2021, Rishabh Pant was driving alone on a highway near Roorkee, India when his car collided with a divider and caught fire. He suffered serious injuries but managed to escape the burning vehicle. Pant underwent treatment and rehabilitation. Reports suggest he is recovering well and will play in the 2024 IPL season.

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