NEW DELHI: India's star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant fell asleep while driving, which caused his car to collide with a divider on the Narsan border of Roorkee, near Hammadpur Jhal, in Uttarakhand, the police said on Friday.
Pant was travelling from Delhi to Roorkee and had a miraculous escape as the car caught fire after the high-speed accident. The cricketer hassuffered multiple injuries in the crash, but his condition is reported to be stable.
He is currently being treated at the MAX hospital in Dehradun.
According to SK Singh, the Superintendent of Police, Haridwar (Rural), Pant fell asleep while driving his vehicle.
"He was going to Roorkee to meet his relatives. The accident happened because he fell asleep at the wheel a kilometre ahead of Narsan towards Roorkee," SK Singh told ANI.
Pant was alone in the car when he met with the accident on the Delhi-Dehradun highway.
"Cricketer Rishabh Pant is under the observation of Orthopedics and plastic surgeons. His condition is stable. A detailed medical bulletin will be released once he's examined. Thereafter, we'll take the next steps," said Dr Ashish Yagnik, Max Hospital, Dehradun.
The BCCI said it will make sure that Pant receives the best medical care.
"The BCCI will see to it that Rishabh receives the best possible medical care and gets all the support he needs to come out of this traumatic phase," the Indian cricket board tweeted.
"Rishabh has two cuts on his forehead, a ligament tear in his right knee and has also hurt his right wrist, ankle, toe and has suffered abrasion injuries on his back. Rishabh’s condition remains stable...he will undergo MRI scans to ascertain the extent of his injuries and formulate his further course of treatment," the BCCI statement further read.
"The BCCI is in constant touch with Rishabh’s family while the Medical Team is in close contact with the doctors currently treating Rishabh. The Board will see to it that Rishabh receives the best possible medical care and gets all the support he needs to come out of this traumatic phase."
Pant was left out of the upcoming limited-overs series against Sri Lanka. The star stumper played a big role in India's two-Test series win against Bangladesh. Pant had scored a match-winning knock of 93 in the second Test in Mirpur.
Pant has scored 2,271 runs in 33 Tests so far with the help of five centuries and 11 fifties. He has also represented the country in 30 ODIs and 66 T20Is.
