NEW DELHI: India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant on Wednesday said he is making steady progress in his recovery and remains hopeful of returning to competitive cricket at the earliest.

Speaking on the sidelines of the World Pickleball League, where he attended as co-owner of Mumbai Pickle Power, Pant said he has been putting in the hard yards at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

"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.

Staying connected to the game during recovery

The 28-year-old underlined how important it is to stay mentally connected to the sport during long injury layoffs. He said his love for cricket and the support from those around him played a key role in getting through the rehabilitation phase.

"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.

Pant also spoke about the need for constant growth as a professional cricketer.

"As a cricketer, you always have to keep adding to your game. I need to keep looking to get better in each and every aspect of my overall gameplay," he said.

Lessons from comebacks and time away from the field

Reflecting on the multiple comebacks he has made in his career, Pant said time away from the field has helped him develop a broader perspective on both cricket and life.

However, he admitted that staying away from top-level competition is the toughest part of being injured.

"Every comeback has taught me something about life. It has taught me more gratitude, how you see things around you, and wanting to be committed to something that really makes you happy.

"When I am injured, the thing I miss the most is really enjoying the game. You love the game so much, but you also enjoy it while playing it at the top level. That's something I miss truly," he signed off.

Pant has been sidelined since January 10 after sustaining a right-sided internal oblique muscle tear following a blow above the waist from a throwdown specialist during a practice session in Vadodara.

(With PTI Inputs)