Cricket has seen great examples of resurrection and bravery. The examples include extreme mental toughness shown at times to overcome hurdles and achieve glory. There are numerous instances of players playing with grave injuries, which could've cost them their career. But even more audacious are the stories of individuals who overcame life- threatening fatal accidents, to eventually make their comebacks thereby inspiring everyone. And cricket has seen many such examples. Here's a list of 5 such players who made comeback after at the receiving end of fatal accidents:-

5) Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi:-

One of the prominent names in Indian cricket history, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi is considered to be the most stylish player of his generation. The former captain of India, met with a car accident, leaving his right eye damaged. With visibility from only one eye, he still continued to play the game. He used to see 2 balls coming out of bowler's hands, but later figured out on how to identify which one of the two is real. And battling with such a grave issue of visibility, he fearlessly faced the fast bowlers and stood up for the team whenever he played on the field. He truly was the "Tiger".

4) Karun Nair:-

The player to score a triple century in least number of innings in test cricket, Karun Nair is also on the list. 2016 was a very happening year for him. He scored his triple century in the same year. But not many knew that he met with a boat accident just few months before achieving this feat. He was going to a pilgrimage in his native place by a boat. And unfortunately, the boat capsized, leaving him and many others stranded in the water. He didn't know how to swim, but was saved by fellow passengers. But a few others couldn't be saved. This incident traumatized him, and he left the game for a while, but fortunately decided to resume the sport sooner.

3) Oshane Thomas:-

The West Indian pacer met with a severe accident in 2020, when his car overturned on the road in Jamaica. He was rushed to the hospital, and he sustained severe injuries. It was unclear whether he will be able to bowl fast again or not. But fate had good plans for him, and he had the will to work hard for it. The lanky spearhead was part of the team before he met with an accident, and he made sure that post it he returns to the international circuit again.

2) Nicholas Pooran:-

The current West Indian skipper known for his power hitting is said to be one of the fittest Carribbean team members. One could hardly imagine that there was a time when he wondered if he could ever run again in his life. Back in 2015, when he was far from making his debut, Pooran's car met with a fatal accident. His left leg was brutally damaged and his ankle and knee suffered grave injuries. The doctors said that he will never be able to play again. But what followed was nothing less than a miracle. His sheer willpower and dedication allowed him to rise again and start playing the game he loved. And he made a miraculous comeback to the game, honed his skills and made it to the West Indies National Team.

1) Rishabh Pant:-

The hero for India in the historic Gabba test victory, Rishabh Pant's comeback is enormously loved by the fans. The southpaw, known for his aggressive batting style was going great in his career. He was an integral part of the team. But unfortunately, he met with a severe car accident in December 2022. His speeding vehicle crashed onto the divider, leaving his leg badly injured. Upon arriving in the hospital, the doctors said that he will take atleast year and a half to start playing the game again. But who can stop his love for the game. He worked immensely on regaining his fitness, and started to make frequent appearances as a player in local club level matches. Slowly and steadily, he cruised up to the level he always played at. And when he came to bat for the IPL 2024, for the first time after his accident, he received a standing ovation from fans. Fans were waiting for a small milestone from him, and they were overjoyed to seem him hit his first half century today.

Which of the following comeback stories inspired you the most, do let us know in the comments.