Team India cricketers Krunal Pandya and Hardik Pandya were dealt with a massive personal blow earlier this year when they lost their father. Krunal was recently seen getting emotional and was at a loss of words after an emphatic ODI debut during the 1st ODI against England at the Mumbai Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. The all-rounder completely broke down on his brother’s shoulders after notching up a half-century on debut.
Ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 edition, Krunal once again became emotional and stated how his father planted the seeds for Hardik and his success all throughout his life. Incidentally, Himanshu Pandya – father of the Pandya brother left his well-settled business to move to Baroda to give his sons proper facilities to grow their career as a cricketer.
He was full of life in our family – Krunal Pandya on late father
In a video released by IPL franchise Mumbai Indians, Krunal Pandya revealed how difficult it was for them in the last two months to cope up with the loss. Krunal feels along with his father, he has also lost a part of his heart that was very close to him.
It has been a difficult last 2 months because of what happened with Dad (passing away). One thing which I’ve realised is the life that we (Krunal and Hardik) have got as a family… a lot of hard work, sacrifices and struggle has been done by that man,” Krunal Pandya said in the video.
“We can say that we are just reaping the fruits of his efforts. He planted the seeds and made them blossom. Now when he’s not there and there are so many good things happening… You feel the weight of all that he did and gave us. Somewhere I feel that one part of my heart has gone with him,” he added.
🗣️ "Me and Hardik are just reaping the fruits of his efforts." @krunalpandya24 opens up on the influence of his father in #MI catch-up! #OneFamily #MumbaiIndians #IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/479vh912iH
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) April 5, 2021
“Yes, people say time heals everything but what I feel is from here on whatever good things I do in life I’ll always remember him. Just 2 days before he passed away (16th (January), on the 14th of January he called me after seeing one of my innings in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which was in Baroda. He said, ‘I’ve seen your knock, I’ve seen you play from the age of 6… But one thing I’ll tell you, after watching this knock is that your time will come now.
So, I was just joking around… I said, ‘Dad, I’ve been playing for the last 5 years, I’ve played for India and done well. We just won the IPL (2020) trophy.’ He said, ‘Whatever you have done till now is fine but your time will come’. These were his last words to me. And then, he went away after 2 days. Somewhere down the line, I feel that his presence is there with me. It’s difficult, I feel every day that he is there. I miss him, in a good way. He was full of life in our family,” Krunal Pandya concluded.
Krunal Pandya and Hardik Pandya will be next seen in action during IPL 2021 which commences on April 9. Defending champions Mumbai Indians will begin their campaign in the tournament opener against the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.