“I had tears in my eyes” – Ravi Shastri Gets Emotional Recalling Rishabh Pant’s Horrific Accident While Presenting Best Fielder Award
In a tense, low-scoring thriller, India emerged victorious over arch-rivals Pakistan by six runs in their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup clash in New York on Sunday. Despite the batting difficulties, it was India’s exceptional fielding and bowling that made the difference, with wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant stellar performance behind the stumps earning him the ‘Best Fielder’ award, presented by a notable guest.
India’s fielders rose to the occasion in the high-pressure IND-PAK showdown. Pant, the left-handed wicketkeeper, took three remarkable catches, including a stunning grab to dismiss Fakhar Zaman off Hardik Pandya’s delivery. He also caught Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim. His dedication and agility were highly praised by the support staff.
Following the victory, fielding coach T Dilip commended the team’s fielding intensity and coordination in the dressing room. The ‘Best Fielder’ award, a tradition that began during the ODI World Cup 2023, continues in this ICC event. Dilip invited former India head coach Ravi Shastri to present Pant with his award for his outstanding fielding in the India-Pakistan clash.
Ravi Shastri Gets Emotional Recalling Rishabh Pant Accident
An emotional Shastri, who had witnessed Pant’s severe car accident in December 2022 and his subsequent recovery, lauded the 26-year-old cricketer’s remarkable comeback and recent performances.
“I had tears in my eyes when I read about his accident, when I saw him in the hospital, it was even worse. For him to come back from there and to be playing one of the biggest games of all time India vs Pakistan was a fantastic display. Batting, everybody knew, but your wicketkeeping and the range of movement is a tribute to the hard work you put in. It’s an inspiration to millions around the globe that you can snatch a win from the jaws of death,” said Shastri.
"Ravi Shastri presenting the Best Fielder of the Match award to Rishabh Pant was such a heartwarming moment! 🥹❤️ And those words from Shaz… truly unforgettable. "
— Hemant Bhavsar (@hemantbhavsar86)
Regarding the match, India, after being sent in to bat first, were dismissed for 119. Pant’s 42 off 31 balls was the only notable batting performance against Pakistan’s disciplined bowling attack, spearheaded by Naseem Shah (3/21) and Haris Rauf (3/21). In response, Babar Azam’s team also struggled, losing wickets regularly and being restricted to 113/7, despite Mohammad Rizwan’s 31.
19:30 IST
