It takes courage to overcome a personal loss for any person in this World which Mandeep Singh showed in the last few days. On the morning of the day when Kings XI Punjab faced Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mandeep Singh got to know the disheartening news of his father passing away back home.
But Mandeep showed courage as he not only decided not to fly back home but also turn up for the match in the evening as Mayank Agarwal was out with an injury. Though Mandeep got out very early in that particular match, the Kings XI Punjab eventually pulled back an impossible match in the final stages of the game. The match was dedicated to Mandeep Singh’s late father later on by the entire KXIP franchise.
It was in the match against Kolkata Knight Riders played at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Mandeep Singh rose to the occasion as he scored a match-winning 66 off 56 deliveries in a 100 partnership with Chris Gayle to help Kings XI Punjab keep their playoff hopes alive as they jumped to fourth place in the points table.
‘Well Played Shera’ – Virat Kohli Lauds Mandeep Singh’s Knock-In Testing Times
After the match, Mandeep Singh described the knock as very special since his father always used to tell him to remain not out at the end of the match no matter how many runs you score.
”This was very special. My father always used to tell me to remain not out in every game, definitely special. He always used to tell me, whether you score 100 or 200, you should be not out,” Mandeep Singh said in the post-match presentation.
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The knock was also lauded by RCB and Team India skipper Virat Kohli as he referred Mandeep Singh as Shera which means Lion. Virat Kohli in an Instagram story spoke highly of Mandeep on how he is the genuinely happy cricketer he knows and that his father is blessing him from the sky.
“The most genuinely happy cricketer I know. To do what you’ve done in this testing time is because of your faith in life and your positive attitude. Well played shera. He’s blessing you from above. @mandeeps12 Lionhearted,” Kohli wrote in his Instagram story.