Former wicket-keeper of the India U-19 team and the current captain of Delhi (Vijay Hazare Trophy), Rishabh Pant, suffered a personal tragedy on Wednesday night when his father, Rajendra Pant, expired in his sleep due to a cardiac arrest. Reports indicate that he was suffering from fatigue from a few days.

In what came as a huge blow to the family, Pant left the Delhi Daredevils squad on Thursday morning to perform the last rites of his father and also to be with his mother Saroj and sister Sakshi during their time of grief. His father was cremated at Kankhal in Haridwar.

“It’s a time that he needs to be with the family. He can take his time and join the team when he feels like,” an anonymous Delhi Daredevils official was quoted.

Daredevils are scheduled to start their IPL 2017 campaign against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Bengaluru tomorrow. Sources have revealed that Pant is likely to join the squad in Bengaluru by today. If that happens, it will be a test of character for the 19-year old Pant, who was a sure starter in Daredevils’ playing eleven. In a loss which cannot be compensated for any price in this world, it must have taken a huge amount of courage on the part of the teenager.

Irrespective of his performance on the field tomorrow, the fact that he will turn up for Daredevils in the match in itself depicts a lot about the determination that these modern-day players have in them.

Pant made his T20I debut vs England in Bengaluru earlier this year, replacing Ishant Sharma as the youngest Indian T20I player. Batting at No. 6, Pant scored 5* off three balls.

972 runs in eight matches at an average of 81 and a strike rate of 107.28 made him the fourth-highest run-scorer in Ranji Trophy this year.

Image Credits – HT