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"Unnecessary But...": Rishabh Pant’s Doctor Reacts To Post-Century Somersault Celebration

Rajgeeta Yadav

Rishabh Pant performs somersault [Source: AP Photos]Rishabh Pant performs somersault [Source: AP Photos]

Rishabh Pant’s return to Test cricket has been nothing short of magical. In the first Test against England at Headingley, the dynamic wicketkeeper-batter lit up the field with two stunning centuries, 134 in the first innings and 118 in the second. But it wasn’t just his batting that got people talking. After his first hundred, Pant celebrated with a surprise somersault, leaving fans and legends like Sunil Gavaskar amazed.

Gavaskar, who was present in the stands, encouraged Pant to repeat the somersault after his second century. However, this time, Pant chose to mimic footballer Dele Alli’s famous hand gesture from 2018. He later promised Gavaskar he might still pull off the somersault celebration again during the series.

The Doctor Who Saved Him Speaks Out

Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala, the renowned Mumbai-based orthopaedic surgeon who operated on Pant after his life-threatening car crash in December 2022, shared his honest thoughts about the celebration. While impressed with Pant’s agility, he questioned whether such stunts were really necessary.

“Rishabh trained as a gymnast – and so although he looks large, he is quite agile, and he does have a lot of flexibility," Pardiwala told The Telegraph. “And that’s why he’s been doing those somersaults of late. It’s a well-practised and perfected move – unnecessary though!," he told The Telegraph.

Dr. Pardiwala had treated Pant at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai after Pant’s car crashed into a divider while he was driving to Roorkee. The cricketer suffered multiple injuries, including major ligament damage in his right knee, requiring surgery and a long rehabilitation process at the National Cricket Academy.

Pant was out of competitive cricket for over a year. His comeback in IPL 2024 for the Delhi Capitals marked the beginning of a new chapter. Since then, his form has only improved, and his fitness levels have stunned fans and critics alike.

According to Dr. Pardiwala, Pant has changed a lot since the accident. He said, 

“He recognises the fact that he was extremely lucky to be alive. He’s so motivated as a cricketer. If you knew the Rishabh before this happened, he’s a much more mature human being. He’s very philosophical now. He appreciates life and everything that goes around it. That typically happens to anyone who’s faced death in the face. Someone who’s had a near-death experience often gets life into perspective."

Rishabh Pant Explains His Signature Celebration

In an interview with Sony Sports, Pant explained the story behind his iconic somersault. 

“I had three celebrations in mind. One was ‘let the bat do the talking.’ But then I thought, let me go with my own style. I’ve been doing somersaults since I was a kid. I trained in gymnastics during school,” he revealed.

Pant also used the same celebration earlier in IPL 2025 while playing for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), adding a fun and personal touch to his cricketing milestones.

Notably, Rishabh Pant’s twin centuries at Headingley made him the first Indian batter to score hundreds in both innings of a Test match in England. He also became only the seventh Indian to hit a century in each innings of a Test. 

Despite these personal milestones, India ended up on the losing side. England chased down 371 runs to win the match by five wickets, handing India a disappointing start to the five-Test series.