Indian and Mumbai Indians all-rounder Krunal Pandya paid an emotional tribute to his late father Himanshu and revealed the last words his father said to him.
Krunal Pandya had a dream debut for India in ODI cricket. The southpaw smashed a 26-ball fifty, the fastest for any cricketer on his debut, and then later took a wicket with a ball that helped Team India seal the first ODI against England.
After his innings he couldn't keep hold of his tears and broke down, paying homage to his father, Himanshu Pandya, who passed away in January this year due to cardiac arrest.
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However, just days before the start of IPL 2021, where Mumbai Indians will take Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the season opener, Krunal Pandya spoke about his last chat with his father.
In a video posted by Mumbai Indians on their Twitter handle, the eldest of Pandya brothers said that it has been difficult the last two months for him because of what happened to his father.
"It has been difficult last two months as well because of what happened with dad. One thing which I have realized that I have got or which we have got as a family a lot of hard work has been done by that man. We can say that we just reaping the fruits of his efforts. He was the one who planted the seeds and made it blossom," Krunal Pandya said in a video posted by Mumbai Indians.
Krunal Pandya revealed the last conversation he had with his late father:
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"Just two days before he went, on the 16th (January). 14th he called me after watching one of my knocks in the Syed Mushtaq Ali which was in Baroda. He said that 'I have seen you play from the age of six but one thing I can tell after watching this knock is that your time will come now,” he said.
"So I was just joking around. I said 'Dad I've been playing for the last five years. I've played for India, I've done well. We just won the IPL trophy.' He said 'Whatever you have done till now is fine but I just feel that your time will come,” he added.
“These were his last words to me. And then he went away after two days. So yeah, somewhere down the line I feel that his presence is there with me. It's difficult... I feel everyday that he is there. I miss him, in a good way. He was full of life in our family," he concluded.
