India's upcoming series against Sri Lanka will be their first since wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant’s horrific car crash. Pant is currently undergoing treatment and was severely injured after his car crashed on the Delhi-Dehradun highway. The 25-year-old was considered an integral part of India's plans for the upcoming 2023 World Cup and in the T20I scheme of things as well.
All-rounder Hardik Pandya , who will captain the Indian team in the T20I matches against Sri Lanka, said that the team is hoping that Pant will make a speedy recovery. “What happened is very unfortunate. As a team we wish him all the best. Our love and prayers are always with him and we hope he manages a speedy recovery. He was very important but everyone knows where the situation stands,” said Pandya on the eve of the first T20I against Sri Lanka. The match will be played at the Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday.
Pandya also said that the absence of Pant can be an opportunity for other wicketkeeper-batters to make a mark for themselves in India colours. “A lot of people can get an opportunity. If Rishabh was there it would have made a big difference because of the kind of player he is. Now he is not there so we will see what the future has in store for us,” he said.
Pant, alone in his car, was driving to Uttarakhand to pay his family a surprise visit when he dozed off while on the Delhi-Dehradun highway. His car collided into a divider at Mohammedpur Jat near Roorkee. The police later informed the media that Pant's car caught fire but the Indian cricketer managed to escape the vehicle after breaking its windscreen. Pant was rushed to Roorkee's Civil Hospital before being taken to Max, Dehradun, which was about 30 minutes away from there.
Sri Lanka's limited overs tour of India will consist of three T20Is and as many ODIs. The second T20I will be played on Thursday in Pune while the third match will take place in Rajkot on Saturday. While Pandya is leading the team in the T20I series, he will be vice-captain in the subsequent three-match ODI series with regular skipper Rohit Sharma returning.
(With inputs from agencies)