<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">Indian cricket star Rishabh Pant has thanked "two heroes" who helped get him to hospital after his car crashed into a road divider and caught fire.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In his first public comments since the accident, Pant said he would be "forever grateful and indebted" to Rajat Kumar and Nishu Kumar, posting a photo of the duo at his hospital bed.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"I may not have been able to thank everyone individually, but I must acknowledge these two heroes who helped me during my accident and ensured I got to the hospital safely," Pant said on Twitter late Monday.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Rajat Kumar &amp; Nishu Kumar, Thank you. I'll be forever grateful and indebted."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The flamboyant wicketkeeper-batsman crashed his Mercedes SUV north of New Delhi before dawn on December 30.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He suffered multiple injuries when the car rammed into a crash barrier, flipped over and caught fire.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The 25-year-old was rushed to a local hospital in Dehradun before being airlifted to Mumbai for further treatment and surgery.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Indian cricket board said that Pant suffered several injuries including a damaged ligament in his right knee, a hurt wrist and ankle, and abrasions on his back.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Pant tweeted Monday that his "road to recovery" had now begun and that an operation -- reportedly on his knee -- "was a success".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"I am humbled and grateful for all the support and good wishes... The road to recovery has begun and I am ready for the challenges ahead," he tweeted.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He also thanked the Indian cricket board and government authorities for their "incredible support".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"From the bottom of my heart, I also would like to thank all my fans, teammates, doctors and the physios for your kind words and encouragement. Looking forward to see you all on the field. #grateful #blessed."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Pant, who is the captain of Delhi Capitals side in the Indian Premier League, is set to miss the cash-rich tournament due to start in late March or April.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He was also left out of the squads for the first two Tests of Australia's upcoming tour of India in February and March, when the arch-rivals will play four Tests.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Pant is a mainstay of the Test squad and has played a key role in some of India's most memorable wins in the last three years.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This includes his brilliant 88 not out in the fourth and final Test in Australia in 2021 that helped India win the match and the series. AFP</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>