December 2022

Pant last played a Test series in December 2022 against Bangladesh, delivering a typical flamboyant performance that you would expect of him. In Chattogram, even as his teammates struggled for rhythm on a slow wicket, Pant casually walked out, blasting a 45-ball 46 and was the only batter among the top-nine to strike at more than 55.

Pause. Cut. Paste in Mirpur. In the first innings, with India at 72-3 on an even slower track, Bangladesh’s 227 looked steeper than usual. But, as had become routine, there was Pant. A swashbuckling 93 with five sixes. No one else in the game had more than two - but, it was, again, nothing extraordinary. It did not raise eyebrows nor leave the world raving, who had already been awed to the point of it being repetitive. Normal. Monotonous.

But days later, as the cricketing world prepared to usher in the new year, news broke of his accident. It wasn’t just his career that was at risk - it was the least of anyone’s priorities as his health and well-being were in jeopardy. The days that followed were filled with extreme anxiety as images of the player, who had been crooning random off-tune songs behind the stumps just a few hours ago, lying in hospital beds and ambulances, his body dishevelled came to the fore. It was, plain and simple, dreadful.

Rishabh Pant, we miss you. ♥️

Sincerely, every cricket lover across the world. pic.twitter.com/SBSU82TsUH

— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) June 3, 2023

As assurances came in that Pant had survived the worst, there was a huge sigh of relief. The road to recovery would be long, uncertain, and filled with countless hours of rehabilitation but at that point, we were just pleased. If this was to be the end of his playing days, while abrupt and unfair, it would be understandable.

September 2024

Almost 21 months later, Pant is set to be back in the longest format, making a comeback against the very opposition he last played Test cricket. This year, Pant has captained an Indian Premier League team and has won the T20 World Cup but it is his return to the Test set-up that was largely awaited. It is where he truly thrives.

It is where Pant’s aggressive, free-spirited approach finds its most rewarding expression. From playing counter-attacking knocks under pressure to turning the tide of matches in India’s favour, Pant’s contributions in Test cricket have been nothing short of exceptional. In just 33 matches, he has already established himself as one of the greatest wicketkeeper-batters and is well en route to stamping his legacy across oppositions, with at least one knock over 90 against six of the seven teams he has played.

Despite his limited game time, Pant’s resume makes for impressive reading with several memorable knocks. Who can forget his heroic innings at the Gabba in 2021, where he fearlessly chased down a record target against Australia, scripting one of India’s greatest overseas victories? Or his counter-attacking 146 against England off 111 deliveries?

There’s a patient unbeaten 100 in Cape Town as well, his slowest century that showed Pant is not just a one-trick pony. It solidified his love affair with Test cricket, which, with its ebb and flow, demands both patience and flair - traits Pant embodies in his own distinct way. While other formats may offer flashier moments, it’s in this format that Pant’s spirit shines brightest. The format’s nuances suit his approach - patient but aggressive, cautious but bold.

When he steps back onto the field against Bangladesh in the upcoming series, it will be a homecoming of cricket’s most beloved to a world he will always belong to. Test cricket isn’t just a format for Pant, it is a canvas for his artistry. As he dons the whites once again, he is not just Rishabh Pant the cricketer but a symbol of hope, a reminder that setbacks are temporary, and with enough determination, the best is always yet to come.

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