Mohammed Shami reveals how he was inspired by Rishabh Pant's recovery from a horrific car accident

Team India pace bowler Mohammed Shami recently said that he took inspiration from ‘fighter’ Rishabh Pant regarding his comeback to competitive cricket. Mohammed Shami shared how Rishabh Pant's demeanor during his injury recovery inspired him at the National Cricket Academy (NCA).

Shami hasn't played for the India national cricket team since the ODI World Cup 2023 final against Australia. He underwent surgery for a left Achilles heel injury. However, his return has been further delayed due to swelling in his knees. The Men in Blue have been without the pacer for almost one year.

Had Spent Time With Rishabh Pant - Mohammed Shami

When asked about his recovery from injury, Mohammed Shami recounted spending time with Rishabh Pant at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. Shami said that Pant maintained a cheerful demeanor throughout his rehab despite having multiple ligaments broken during a car accident.

“I had spent time with Rishabh at the National Cricket Academy, where he was doing the rehab after his injury. I have seen the images, which were so scary,” Shami said.

"What inspired me the most that I never saw him sad. All his ligaments were broken but he continued his rehab with a laugh on his face. It was a massive learning for me as well. His positive attitude taught me the importance of patience," he added.

Rishabh Pant Suffered A Horrific Car Accident In December 2022

Rishabh Pant suffered a horrific car accident in December 2022. The wicketkeeper batter suffered multiple ligament injuries during the accident. It took more than one year to make his comeback during the IPL 2024. Pant then became an integral member of the Indian team across all three formats.

The Delhi Capitals (DC) skipper was part of India's title victory during the T20 World Cup 2024 in June. He made his return to red-ball cricket during the Duleep Trophy 2024. The southpaw scored a century during his comeback Test match against Bangladesh and then added 99 runs against New Zealand.

That Series Is Still Far Away - Mohammed Shami

In the same interaction, Mohammed Shami said that he wants to focus on his fitness rather than thinking about the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25. He acknowledged the speculation around his return to the BGT series, but he wants to play a couple of domestic matches before his comeback.

"I know everyone has been thinking about whether I will go to Australia or not but that series is still far away. The only thing I want to focus on is how to keep myself fit and how to get as strong as I can for the tour. I know what kind of an attack we want for that Test series, so it’s better for me to work on the nuances and spend some more time on the ground before going," Shami said.

"If I get fit and I get a gap of eight to ten days, then it’s better that I play one or two domestic matches before going to Australia," he added.

Following India's surprising defeat in the first Test against New Zealand, Shami was seen practicing with assistant coach Abhishek Nayar. The five-match Test series between India and Australia will commence in Perth on November 22.

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