‘Unnecessary!’ — Doctor who saved Pant’s life reacts to his somersault celebration

Rishabh Pant’s trademark flamboyance was on full display during the first Test against England at Leeds, where he produced two thrilling centuries, but one move after reaching his hundred has sparked debate. Pant’s surgeon, Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala, who treated him after his near-fatal car crash in December 2022, has weighed in on Pant’s now-viral somersault celebration. Speaking to The Telegraph, Dr Pardiwala said, “Rishabh trained as a gymnast. Although he looks large, he is quite agile, and he does have a lot of flexibility. And, that’s why he’s been doing those somersaults of late. It’s a well-practised and perfected move — unnecessary though!”

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Pant’s journey back to the pitch has been nothing short of remarkable. On December 30, 2022, while driving from Delhi to his hometown Roorkee, he lost control of his car, crashed into a divider, and sustained multiple injuries that kept him out of action for months.

Against England, however, Pant reminded everyone of why he’s so highly rated in Test cricket. He smashed a counter-attacking 134 in the first innings and followed it up with 118 in the second. Despite his heroics, India could not defend a target of 371 and went down by five wickets.Quiz: Who's that IPL player? Pant’s record in England speaks volumes about his love for challenging conditions. He has made 808 runs in 10 Tests at an average of 42.52, including four centuries and two fifties. His best remains a memorable 146.