BIPIN DANI
The last image of Rishabh Pant on the cricket field was one of grit and defiance, being carted off at Old Trafford with a fractured foot, only to return moments later, hobbling yet determined, to squeeze out a few more runs for India. It was a scene that blended bravery with heartbreak, a warrior refusing to bow out quietly.
Fast forward a few weeks, and Pant’s fighting spirit has found a new stage, this time, in a pizza kitchen. In a light-hearted video posted recently, the injured wicketkeeper-batter is seen swapping cricket whites for a chef’s apron, tossing dough instead of deliveries. The cameo comes after his valiant 54-run stand in the fourth Test, played through pain, which helped India secure a draw. Now, with six weeks of recovery ahead, he’s moved from the middle order to the middle rack.
“Only thing I can do with a broken foot right now is… make pizza,” he quipped, crafting a pizza bianco topped with basil, truffle, and a generous shower of parmesan. With a grin, he added, “My mother must be thinking, ‘He never cooks at home but here he is making pizza.'”
Clearly, Pant’s foot may be out of action, but his flair is still batting at No. 4. Whether it’s kneading dough or nudging singles through pain, he’s proving that form is temporary, but flavour, like class, is permanent.
