New Delhi: Young cricket prodigy Rishabh Pant suffered a personal tragedy on Wednesday after his father Rajesh Pant passed away in sleep following a cardiac arrest. After performing his father's last rites, Pant roared back in the Delhi Daredevils' squad for match against Royal Challengers Bangalore, scoring 57 off 36 balls.
The result, however, didn't go in Delhi favour as the visiting team kept losing wickets from one end while Rishabh continued building his innings until the last over of the match. (RCB vs DD - As it happened | Report)
Commenting on the tragedy Pant suffered, Zaheer Khan said, "He played well, and just needed support at the other end. Pant showed a lot of courage, he has undergone personal trauma, we are all with him."
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Seeing the youngster produce such an excellent performance, keeping emotions in control, Yuvraj Singh took to twitter to extol the 19-year-old.
Sorry for the loss of your father Rishab Panth still batted really well under pressure tough to deal mentally All credit to @RCBTweets
— yuvraj singh (@YUVSTRONG12) April 8, 2017
"Sorry for the loss of your father Rishab Panth still batted really well under pressure tough to deal mentally All credit to @RCBTweets," tweeted they left-hander.
Commentator Harsha Bhogle also hailed Pant's character after giving his best for the team despite suffering a personal tragedy.
Really feel for young Rishabh Pant. Losing your father is a terrible blow and cricket is only a weak balm. But at least it is a balm
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 8, 2017
"Really feel for young Rishabh Pant. Losing your father is a terrible blow and cricket is only a weak balm. But at least it is a balm," Bhogle's first tweet read.
He's 20,been performing the last rites for his father & he's come to play a special innings for #DD. Rishabh Pant is going to be some player
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 8, 2017
"He's 20,been performing the last rites for his father & he's come to play a special innings for #DD. Rishabh Pant is going to be some player," Bhogle said in his second tweet.
Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra also showered special praise on Pant.
We've just witnessed a special innings from a special player...Rishabh should be the present of Indian cricket. He's the future for sure.
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 8, 2017
"We've just witnessed a special innings from a special player...Rishabh should be the present of Indian cricket. He's the future for sure," Chopra tweeted.
The first ball Pant faced in IPL 2017, Pant went down the track and sent Iqbal Abdulla's delivery deep into the mid-wicket stands.
