Indian cricket sensations Rishabh Pant and Axar Patel made a spiritual visit to the renowned Lord Balaji Temple in Tirupathi, Andhra Pradesh. On Friday, the dynamic cricketers were spotted donning traditional religious attire after completing their ‘pooja’ ritual. They were swarmed by an enthusiastic crowd of fans, eagerly seeking handshakes and selfies with their cricket idols.
Rishabh has been on the path to recovery following a car accident in December, which resulted in Pant suffering severe burns and a significant ligament tear. His injuries were extensive, including a severe right knee issue necessitating ligament reconstruction surgery. He underwent the surgery in Mumbai in February 2023 under the supervision of Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala. Currently, he is diligently training at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) as part of his rehabilitation process.
Not enough words to describe the energy of the place. Didn’t feel like leaving the temple. Unbelievable positive energy & spiritual energy. 🤍 🤍 pic.twitter.com/UAroS4QzfX
— Rishabh Pant (@RishabhPant17) November 3, 2023
Versatile all-rounder Axar Patel’s spot in India’s 15-player lineup for the ODI World Cup 2023 was relinquished due to a left quadriceps strain. Originally named in the preliminary squad, Patel’s absence paved the way for seasoned spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin. The 29-year-old incurred the injury during India’s Super 4 showdown against Bangladesh in September at the 2023 Asia Cup, a mere month before the commencement of the World Cup.
#WATCH Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh: Cricketers Rishabh Pant and Axar Patel visit Lord Balaji Temple. pic.twitter.com/aZVv8SX9gL
— ANI (@ANI) November 3, 2023
Rishabh Pant on temple visiting spree amidst road to recovery
On October 3, Rishabh Pant embarked on a spiritual journey to the Badrinath temple, nestled in the Himalayas. Pant, arriving in style via a helicopter, received a warm reception from the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee, as well as local cricket enthusiasts, the youth, and devoted pilgrims. The Khanpur MLA, Umesh Kumar, also accompanied him on the pious journey.
The temple committee’s media liaison, Harish Gaur, shared that following his visit to Lord Vishnu’s abode, the Uttarakhand batter extended his reverence to the various temples within the Badrinath temple precinct. Furthermore, he sought the blessings of the temple’s head priest, Rawal Ishwar Prasad Namboodiri, in a display of deep spiritual devotion.