Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant on April 3 penned down an emotional tribute to his father Rajendra, who passed away on April 5, 2017 after suffering a cardiac arrest.
Rajendra’s demise still hurts Pant junior, who was entering his second year in IPL cricket when he learnt of the devastating news. Only 19 at the time, Pant was preparing to play the IPL 2017 with the Delhi franchise when the sad news came from home.
He then travelled to Roorkee to finish his father’s last rites and give him a farewell before coming back to play Delhi’s game against Royal Challengers Bangalore on April 8.
In a decision that would have required courage and level of commitment beyond his years, Pant stayed on with the Delhi team and didn’t take a longer break to be with his family in a period of distress. He blasted a 36-ball 57 in the match played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, RCB’s home venue.
Taking to Instagram a day before his father’s death anniversary, the left-hander wrote down an emotional letter to senior Pant, thanking him for all his support and stating how much he loved him.
“He loved me for who I was and accepted me for who I was striving to become. Dads are strong for a reason. Their strength gives us a sense of protection. Now that you are in heaven dad, I know you will continue to protect me. Thanks for being my dad. I will always love and miss you until we meet again,”
Pant wrote.
In a recent interview with the Times of India, the 24-year-old recalled his father and got really emotional when he also learnt of the passing of his childhood coach Tarak Sinha, who gave wings to his talent at a young age after he moved to Delhi to pursue his cricketing ambitions.
“I wanted to come back and meet him (chokes). I really miss my father. When my father left me, I was playing cricket. Tarak sir was like my second father.
When he left us, I was again busy playing. These people have taken me where I stand today,”
he said.
