Team India’s talented wicketkeeper-batsman and current Lucknow Super Giants IPL captain Rishabh Pant has had many unforgettable innings in his cricketing career. But one of the most unforgettable wins of his life didn’t happen on the field — it happened off the field. Pant has been shortlisted in the ‘Comeback of the Year’ award at the 2025 Laureus Sports Awards, one of the most renowned awards in world sports, widely known as the “Oscars of the sporting world.”
🤩 Here are the Nominees for the 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards.
🏆 Who do you think the Laureus World Sports Academy Members should select as the final Award winners?
#Laureus25---Advertisement---— Laureus (@LaureusSport) March 3, 2025
A Rare Honour for Indian Athletes
Laureus Awards are a dream for any sportsman. Just three Indian sportsmen have ever received a nomination — Sachin Tendulkar, Neeraj Chopra, and Vinesh Phogat. Out of them, only Sachin has so far won this highly sought-after award. And now Rishabh Pant has joined this privileged list with his miraculous tale of courage and determination.
Sachin Tendulkar Won Laureus Award🇮🇳
incredible speech from the Laureus Sporting Moment 2000 – 2020 winner, the great @sachin_rt 🇮🇳#SachinTendulkar#Laureus20 #SportUnitesUs pic.twitter.com/GU5qVP6dmX---Advertisement---— CrickeTendulkar 🇮🇳 (@CrickeTendulkar) February 18, 2020
Why Rishabh Pant Was Nominated
Differing from many awards solely dependent on performance, Pant’s nomination is an award for sheer courage and determination. In December 2022, his life came to a screeching halt when he got into a near-fatal car accident. Multiple surgeries and an arduous rehab process over nearly two years meant that not only his career but his entire future was on the line but Pant never lost hope.
A Heroic Return in 2024
In 2024, Rishabh Pant made a stunning return to the cricket field. He smashed a Test century against Bangladesh, equaling MS Dhoni’s record for the most Test centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper. Later that year, he played a crucial role in India’s victory in the T20 World Cup, proving that he’s not just a physical fighter but also mentally unshakable.
His return tale was further cemented when he became the costliest player in IPL history, being retained by Lucknow Super Giants for a record ₹27 crore in the mega auction.
Who Else is Competing?
Pant’s journey is truly inspirational, but the competition is tough. Other global athletes nominated in the same category include:
| Nominee | Sport |
|---|---|
| Rebecca Andrade | Gymnastics |
| Caeleb Dressel | Swimming |
| Marc Marquez | MotoGP |
| Ariarne Titmus | Swimming |
| Lara Gut-Behrami | Alpine Skiing |
| Rishabh Pant | Cricket |
The Big Day
The final winner will be announced at the Laureus Awards ceremony on April 21, 2025, in Madrid, Spain. A total of 69 of the world’s top athletes will be involved in selecting who made the most inspiring comeback of the year.
No matter the result, Rishabh Pant’s journey is already a victory — a symbol of hope, strength, and unyielding spirit.
Also Read: IPL 2025: Will Mayank Yadav’s Return Spark LSG’s Bowling Revival Ahead Of Clash Against RR?
