The cricketing world first took notice of Rishabh Pant nearly a decade ago, on February 6, 2016, during the Under-19 World Cup. His explosive century propelled India into the semi-finals. Later that day, he was picked up in the IPL auction, beginning his journey to cricket stardom. Now 28, Pant continues to make headlines.
Born in Uttarakhand, Pant’s cricketing roots are firmly planted in Delhi. His success is a testament to his dedication, his family’s support, guidance from his coach, and the role of a significant gurudwara. During Pant’s early years, MS Dhoni was the dominant wicketkeeper-batsman in Indian cricket. Like Dhoni, Pant chose the same role, but coming from a smaller town posed challenges.
Uttarakhand lacked organized cricket infrastructure, leading Pant’s family to send him to Delhi. At 12, he began his nightly bus journeys with his mother, Saroj Pant, to train under coach Tarak Sinha at the Sonnet Cricket Club.
Without relatives in the city and limited finances, Rishabh and his mother found shelter at the Gurudwara Moti Bagh Sahib in South Delhi. They stayed there, ate at the langar, and practiced. The gurudwara’s significance extends beyond providing shelter; it’s connected to the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
In 1707, Guru Gobind Singh camped at this site while visiting the Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah. It’s believed he shot an arrow that landed near the emperor, astonishing him. The gurudwara’s association with Guru Gobind Singh gives it special reverence.
In 2017, Pant’s father passed away during the IPL season. At just 19, he displayed remarkable resilience. He played a determined innings of 57 runs in 36 balls against Royal Challengers Bengaluru for the Delhi Daredevils, just 24-48 hours after his father’s funeral.