‘We were all worried in Pakistan’: Former Pakistan great Wasim Akram heaps praise on Rishabh Pant for marvellous comeback in Test cricket

New Delhi: Rishabh Pant announced his return to Test cricket in style, as the wicketkeeper batter smashed a century against Bangladesh in the first Test in Chennai. Pant’s heroic comeback left everyone with surprise after his peers recalled the horrific car crash he was a part of it in December 2022. Pakistan former cricketer Wasim Akram appreciated Rishabh’s marvelous return.

“Look at Pant’s performance, the miracle that he has performed by showing he is superhuman by returning from his tragedy,” said Akram on Sportskeeda. “The way his accident happened, we were all worried in Pakistan, I was worried and tweeted about him.”

Akram was reminiscing on some of the spectacular shots that Pant would play, especially against England’s legend, James Anderson. But whichever way one tries to look at it, he would say it is because of his mental strength and the way he looked at the mental toughness he displayed in rebounding from almost a deathly accident that impresses Akram most.

“The way he used to play in Test cricket, the way he performed in Australia with the century then,” said the Pakistan great. “The way he batted against England, playing a reverse sweep against [James] Anderson in Test cricket, even [Pat] Cummins. He’s special.”

“Especially what he has been through in that horrific accident, coming back from that, how mentally strong must that boy be.”

Akram hopes that Pant’s journey of returning to cricket will be shared with children for generations, believing it will inspire many to overcome challenges and rise above difficult circumstances.

“That’s a story to be told for generations and generations, in my opinion, to motivate young people of the world. You can come back the way Pant did,” said Akram.

“He came back and averaged 40 in the IPL, 446 runs at a strike rate of 155, he’s a miracle kid,” Akram concluded.