3 Cricketers who made remarkable comebacks after major injuries

Injuries and sport often go hand in hand. Every athlete chasing greatness has to endure setbacks, and cricketers are no exception. While minor niggles heal quickly, some injuries are so severe they threaten careers, even lives. Overcoming them requires not just physical strength but immense mental resilience.

Here are three cricketers who battled life‑threatening injuries and returned to the field with remarkable comebacks.

#1 Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant’s story is nothing short of miraculous. On December 30, 2022, he survived a horrific car crash near Roorkee, Uttarakhand. After initial treatment in Dehradun, he was airlifted to Mumbai, where he underwent knee ligament surgery at Kokilaben Hospital under the care of Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala.

"First time in my life I had that feeling of letting it go. I felt my time in this world was over," Pant said in an interview with Star Sports on August 24, 2023, which was conducted in Bengaluru, titled Believe: To Death and Back. 

"It was the first time I had such a feeling in life. At the time of the accident, I was aware of the wounds, but I was lucky as it could have been even more serious."

💬 💬 You are a fighter. Get well soon 🤗 #TeamIndia wish @RishabhPant17 a speedy recovery 👍 👍 pic.twitter.com/oVgp7TliUY

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 3, 2023

Against all odds, he recovered, returned to cricket, and in 2025 became the most expensive player in IPL history when Lucknow Super Giants signed him for INR 27 crore.

#2 Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes suffered a broken cheekbone after being struck in the face by a ball hit by a Durham youth‑team player, Robbie Bowman, during a net session. The 18‑year‑old keeper‑batter was batting when the freak accident occurred.

Stokes underwent surgery and later shared the seriousness of the injury in an interview with the ECB: “A couple of inches one way or the other and I might not be here doing this interview if I didn’t turn my head around. All things considered, although I had pretty major facial surgery to sort it out… I’ve got quite lucky, so I’m pretty thankful for that.”

Despite the scare, Stokes fought back and returned to lead England’s Test side, proving his resilience once again.

#3 Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer’s injury came during India’s white‑ball tour of Australia in October. In the third ODI at the SCG, he took a brilliant catch to dismiss Alex Carey but suffered a spleen laceration that led to internal bleeding.

He was treated in Sydney by Dr Koroush Haghighi, with guidance from Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala in India. The injury could have been far worse, but Iyer recovered and made a strong comeback. Today, he leads India in T20Is, a testament to his determination and grit.

These stories remind us that cricket is not just about runs and wickets. It is about courage, resilience, and the human spirit. Pant, Stokes, and Iyer showed that setbacks can be turned into comebacks, inspiring millions who follow the game.