Cricket News
Five Cricketers who played a match after the death of a family member
These players performed their professional duties despite bearing a personal loss.
Cricketers live a busy life all year round. They have a compact calendar throughout the year and hardly get any time to spend with their loved ones. They celebrate all their achievements away from family and sometimes even miss the last moments of their family members.
There have been many instances in the history of cricket when players showed great fortitude and played the game they love after losing their close family members. Let’s take a look at such moments when cricketers fought their inner battles and gave their all on the field despite being in a dark phase mentally:
1) Mohammed Siraj Border Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21
Mohammed Siraj (Source: Twitter)
Mohammed Siraj made headlines when he got picked up by the Bangalore franchise for Rs 2.6 crores in the Indian T20 League. Siraj was a son of an Autorickshaw driver Mohammed Ghaus. He was all set to make his Test debut for India in the Border Gavaskar series 2020-21 but sad news shook him just before the big moment.
Siraj lost his father before the start of the series and couldn’t even attend his last rites due to covid protocols. The seamer showed great resilience as he made his debut in the second Test and impressed everyone with his impeccable accuracy. He went on to become the highest wicket-taker from India in the series and led his team to a 2-1 historic series win.2) Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli (Source: Twitter)
Virat Kohli is one of the most passionate cricketers in the world. Kohli’s love for the game is evident in all his actions on the field. This sheer passion also saw him play a Ranji match the very next day after losing his father.
Kohli, who was just 17 years old at that time, showed great courage in the most tragic moment of his life and went on to continue his innings the next day. He ended up scoring a brilliant 90 which helped Delhi avoid the follow-on. After getting dismissed he came back to his home to complete the last rites of his father. Kohli gave the best tribute to him by becoming a modern great batter today.3) Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar (Source: Twitter)
The 24-year-long career of the legendary Sachin Tendulkar has seen him go through everything. The all-time legend, who was ruling the cricketing world in the 90s, also experienced the lowest moment in his personal life by the end of the decade.
It all happened during the 1999 cricket world cup when Tendulkar got to know about the death of his father. He quickly flew back home and completed his last rites and flew back to England again to continue his world cup campaign. On his return, he scored a scintillating 140 unbeaten off just 101 balls against Kenya and put his ‘mental toughness’ on display in front of the entire world.4) Rashid Khan
Rashid Khan (Source: Twitter)
Rashid Khan has emerged as the most-loved cricketer hailing from Afghanistan. He fits in as an indispensable player in any T20 playing eleven of the world. Rashid, who is seen as one of the most cheerful cricketers in the current era also had to go through a devastating moment in his life. The wrist-spinner had to bear the tragic loss of his father while playing in the Big bash league 2018.
The spinner decided to continue playing in the league despite his personal loss and paid a heartfelt tribute to him in an interview.5) Mandeep Singh
Mandeep Singh (Source: Twitter)
During the Indian T20 League 2020 season, cricketer Mandeep Singh lost his father mid-season. As the Covid-19 pandemic was at its peak, Singh could not travel back to his hometown to attend his father’s last rites.
The 28-year-old played a match for his Punjab franchise the same day. And paid the perfect tribute to his late father by scoring a brilliant 66 against Kolkata in the next game.
