Krunal Pandya dedicated the unbeaten half-century on ODI debut to his father.
India all-rounder Krunal Pandya made a memorable ODI debut for his country in the first encounter against England. He smashed an unbeaten half-century (58*) to put India into a better position in the match after they lost quick wickets.
Krunal got emotional after the innings and broke down remembering his late father. He dedicated the knock to his father who passed away in January.
The 30-year-old revealed he was carrying his father's stuff with him in a bag. Krunal had brought his clothes, which his father would wear before the Pandya brothers' match, in the dressing room to feel his presence. He carried the clothes which his father was supposed to wear before the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match of Baroda.
Their father had a habit of keeping his clothes ready a night before the match of his sons. "My father would always keep the clothes he’d wear for our matches ready the previous night. This was what he was going to wear for my match on Jan 16, the day he left us.
"I carried it with me in the dressing room to feel his presence even more strongly during my ODI debut," wrote Krunal on Twitter.
He continued, "And now I know, that he was always there by my side, guiding me and cheering me on. Thank you, everyone, for your wishes, they mean the world to me ❤️????".