‘Unnecessary…’: Surgeon Who Saved Rishabh Pant’s Life Reacts To His Back Flip

June 29, 2025: Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala, the renowned orthopaedic surgeon who performed Rishabh Pant’s critical surgeries following his life-threatening car accident in December 2022, has weighed in on the cricketer’s signature somersault celebrations. While the doctor acknowledged Pant’s gymnastic skills and agility, he called the move “unnecessary,” despite its crowd-pleasing nature.

Pant’s accident on the Delhi-Dehradun highway left him with multiple injuries, including severe damage to the ligaments in his right knee. After initial treatment in Dehradun, he was airlifted to Mumbai, where Dr. Pardiwala and his team at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital took over his care. Pant’s recovery involved multiple surgeries and a lengthy rehabilitation program at the National Cricket Academy.

Despite missing over a year of cricket, Pant made a successful return in IPL 2024, and in recent months, he’s stunned fans with his form in international cricket — notably scoring two centuries in the Headingley Test against England. After reaching one of those milestones, he celebrated with a somersault — a move that has now become a bit of a trademark, having performed it earlier for the Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2025.

“He trained as a gymnast – and so although he looks large, he is quite agile,” said Dr. Pardiwala in an interview with The Telegraph. “It’s a well-practised and perfected move – unnecessary though!”

The surgeon also offered insight into Pant’s mental transformation post-accident. “He’s a much more mature human being now… someone who’s had a near-death experience often gets life into perspective.”

Dr. Pardiwala didn’t mince words when describing the severity of Pant’s accident. “To be in an accident like this, where the car overturns and blows up, the risk of death is extremely high. He was extremely lucky to be alive.”

Pant’s performance graph is trending upward. After a cautious and underwhelming IPL 2024, he has since returned to peak form, with his recent centuries sparking discussions about his place among India’s greatest Test wicketkeepers. As India look ahead to more crucial series, fans and team management alike will hope Pant continues his resurgence — and perhaps keeps the somersaults in check.