'Even when his father died, he came back 2 days after cremation and scored in IPL': Pant's former coach

The story of Virat Kohli coming out to play a game-saving knock for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy a day after his Dad's demise is counted as one of the bravest moments in the history of cricket. But do you know the 24-year old Rishabh Pant had shown equal courage and strength when hit with the same tragedy? 

Devender Sharma, the assistant to famous cricket coach Tarak Sinha, in a chat with The Week, recalled an incident when Rishabh Pant gathered the courage to appear for an IPL match and helped his team register an emphatic win despite struggling with the loss of his father. 

Devender recalled how devastated Pant was when he got to know about his coach Sinha's death, but he was strong enough to overcome the setback. 

"When news of Ustaad Ji being diagnosed with cancer first came, he was very disturbed. We even sent sir's reports to him when he was in England. The doctor told Rishabh that it was best that sir get treated in Delhi or Jaipur. 

"He was shattered when sir died; we all thought sir would fight it out. [But Pant] is mentally strong - even when his father died, he came back two days after the cremation to play an IPL game and scored runs," Devender was quoted as saying by The Week.

Notably, Rishabh's father, Rajendra Pant, passed away in 2017 due to a cardiac arrest. Two days after his demise, Pant smashed a half-century for the Delhi Daredevils (now rebranded as Capitals) and guided his side to an emphatic win. 

The Delhi skipper, on April 4, penned down an emotional note for his father on his fifth death anniversary, stating how his DadDad loved and accepted him for what he had been. 

"I miss my Dad. 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 DadDad. I will always love and miss you until we meet again," Pant's Instagram post read.