IPL 2025 has been a season of highs and lows for Rishabh Pant. The Lucknow Super Giants captain has been playing strong cricket, keeping his team in the top-5, but a major disappointment has recently overshadowed his achievements. Pant, who made a remarkable comeback after a life-threatening car accident in 2022, was nominated for the prestigious Laureus World Sports Award 2025 in the Comeback of the Year category.

The Laureus Setback

Pant was one of the six prominent athletes nominated for the Comeback of the Year award, joining the ranks of legends like Caeleb Dressel, Lara Gut-Berham, Marc Marquez, Ariane Titmus, and Rebecca Andrade. However, despite his inspiring recovery and comeback to cricket, Pant lost out to Brazilian gymnast Rebecca Andrade. Andrade clinched the award after winning four Olympic medals despite battling numerous injuries.

Pant’s Remarkable Journey

Rishabh Pant’s nomination came after a tough year in which he was involved in a serious car accident in December 2022, leading to multiple surgeries and a lengthy recovery period. Many experts doubted if he would ever return to top-flight cricket, but Pant worked tirelessly on his rehabilitation and made a spectacular comeback to the field in March 2024 during the IPL. His return culminated in being part of the victorious Indian T20 World Cup 2024 squad, and he has since been promoted in the BCCI central contract.

An Honor for Indian Cricket

Though Pant missed out on the award, his nomination in such an elite list is a major achievement. Pant is only the second Indian cricketer to be nominated for a Laureus World Sports Award, following Sachin Tendulkar, who was nominated in 2020. Not only does this solidify Pant's place among international sporting elites, but it also underscores his resilience and dedication to the game.

A Glimpse of the Laureus Legacy

The Laureus World Sports Awards, often referred to as the Oscars of sports, have been recognizing outstanding achievements in sports since 2000. Pant's inclusion in this prestigious list is a testament to his remarkable journey and the positive impact he's had on Indian cricket.