Fitness is getting better and I will be back soon: Rishabh Pant

India's wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant on Tuesday said he is recovering well from his injury and is hopeful of returning to competitive cricket at the earliest.

India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant on Tuesday expressed optimism over an early return to competitive cricket, saying his recovery from injury is progressing well and that he is not far from getting back on the field.

Pant has been sidelined since January 10 after sustaining a right-sided internal oblique muscle tear during a practice session in Vadodara, when he was struck above the waist by a ball from a throwdown specialist.

Pant was speaking on the sidelines of the World Pickleball League, where he was present as the co-owner of Mumbai Pickle Power. The 28-year-old said he has been putting in sustained work at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru as part of his rehabilitation.

"My fitness is getting better day by day. I am working hard at the Centre of Excellence and I think I'm going to be out on the field soon," Pant said.

Pant highlighted the importance of staying mentally connected to the game during long spells of recovery, stressing that his love for cricket and the support around him have helped him through difficult phases.

"When I am injured, one thing that always keeps me close to the game is the love for the game and the support from the people around you," he said.