BCCI to airlift Rishabh Pant to Mumbai

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to airlift Rishabh Pant to Mumbai on Wednesday (January 4) with the help of an air ambulance. BCCI secretary Jay Shah took the decision after a review meeting on Wednesday. The wicketkeeper-batter is currently undergoing treatment at Dehradun’s Max Hospital but will be admitted to Mumbai’s Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital and Medical Research Institute upon his arrival.

According to the BCCI’s statement, the cricketer will be under the direct supervision of Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala who is head at the Centre for Sports Medicine at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital. The statement also read that Rishabh will undergo surgery for ligament tears.

“He will be admitted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital and Medical Research Institute and will be under the direct supervision of Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala, Head – the Centre for Sports Medicine, and Director – Arthroscopy & Shoulder Service at the hospital. Rishabh will undergo surgery and subsequent procedures for ligament tears and will continue to be monitored by the BCCI Medical Team throughout his recovery and rehabilitation. The Board will make every effort to aid and expedite the recovery process of Rishabh and will provide him with all the support he needs during this period,” the BCCI said in official statement on Wednesday. 

The 25-year-old wicketkeeper-batter met with a horrific car accident while driving alone to his hometown Roorkee on December 30. The reason for the accident remains unclear, but his car collided with the divider on the Delhi-Dehradun National highway and then caught fire immediately. 

Rishabh was fortunate with no life-threatening injuries but sustained two cuts on his forehead, injuries to his right wrist, toe, and back, and two ligament tears on his right knee. His MRI scans for the brain and spinal cord damages came cleared but the BCCI asked the doctors at Max Hospital to wait for treatment on leg and wrist injuries due to pain and swelling.

The BCCI also appointed its own panel of doctors to cooperate and assist with the player’s health. It was earlier reported that the player will be shifted to either Mumbai or Delhi for further treatment as BCCI is looking to be careful with the player’s recovery. It is expected that the Delhi Capitals‘ captain will miss the next six months of cricket, including the Indian Premier League 2023 season.