'Dad is there with you now'- Hardik Pandya has a special message for brother Krunal after his scintillating ton in Vijay Hazare Trophy

Baroda and Tripura were up against each other in a game of the ongoing 2021 edition of the Vijay Hazare Trophy at Kholvad Gymkhana Ground in Kemraj, Surat. Baroda managed to script a stunning victory against Tripura by six wickets as the skipper Krunal Pandya emerged as their wrecker-in-chief. Krunal was the highest run-getter of the match with his knock of 127 runs off 97 deliveries including 20 boundaries and 1 maximum at a strike rate of 130.93.

This was the first time that the Indian all-rounder scored a hundred in the domestic circuit. The 29-year-old dedicated this memorable performance to his late father Himanshu Pandya. Krunal and Hardik Pandya had lost their father last month due to a cardiac arrest. The news had completely shattered the two cricketers as Krunal had immediately left the Baroda team during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021 and quickly flew to his hometown Baroda to complete the last rites of their father.

Dedicating his match-defining knock to his late father, Krunal penned an emotional note on his official Instagram handle and revealed that just before the demise, his father had visioned professional success for him. Krunal shared a clip of his knock on Instagram and wrote: “’MY SON, YOUR TIME HAS JUST STARTED,’ these were the last words of my Dad when we discussed cricket after I scored 76 in a SMAT game last month.”

Hardik Pandya lauds brother Krunal Pandya

“Then, I was touched by his appreciation but now I’m astonished by his vision for me. This was the first time when I got a hundred and he was not physically present to watch my game – yes, my heart pounds to even think of this but knowing him, he’d have definitely cheered for each and every run I scored yesterday.”

“’SHABASH KRUNAL SHABASH, RAMTO REHJE,’ he would have cheered! Coincidentally, my Mom was here to watch the game for the first time and I scored a century connection as they say! I got extremely emotional after the hundred and dedicated this innings to my Dad who I know had a grin on his face when I thanked him for every moment he has given me to fulfil my dream,” he wrote further.

 

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A post shared by Krunal Pandya (@krunalpandya_official)

Hardik Pandya also seemed impressed with Krunal’s scintillating hundred during the Vijay Hazare Trophy as he shared Krunal’s post multiple times as his Instagram story and lauded his brother for the brilliant effort. Hardik shared the post of Krunal dedicated to their father three times on his handle while writing, “DAD IS THERE WITH YOU NOW @KRUNALPANDYA_OFFICIAL”, “MY BOY, SO GOOD”, “DAD WILL BE VERY PROUD MY BRO LOVE YOU”