There have been many moments in the history of Indian cricket when players had to make difficult choices between their personal lives and the country. Some returned home for the last rites and took the field again, while some continued to play for the country with a heavy heart. These incidents reflect not just cricket but the depth of duty, sacrifice and emotions.
Rinku Singh: Responsibility amidst grief
Recently Rinku Singh’s father Khanchand Singh passed away. He was suffering from liver cancer. Rinku reached Aligarh for the last glimpse of his father, where he bid farewell to him with tearful eyes. In such difficult times, his playing in the match against West Indies was considered doubtful, but Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Devjit Saikia made it clear that Rinku will join the team in Kolkata on Saturday. This decision shows that a son does not step back from his professional responsibilities even after bidding farewell to his father. Rinku’s father played an important role in her struggles. Now, carrying forward the same dream is for them a filial duty as well as a national duty.
Virat Kohli: An extraordinary decision at the age of 18
The night of 18 December 2006 is forever recorded in the life of Virat Kohli, one of the greatest batsmen of the world today. His 54-year-old father Prem Kohli died of a heart attack during the Delhi vs Karnataka match in the Ranji Trophy. At that time, 18-year-old Virat was unbeaten on 40 runs and the responsibility of saving Delhi from follow-on was on his shoulders. The coach and teammates advised him to go home, but Virat decided that he would first rescue the team from the crisis. The next day he played a fighting innings of 90 runs, saved the team from follow-on and then went straight to the funeral. That day, a young player suppressed his sorrow in his heart and fulfilled his responsibility towards the country and the team. This incident made him mentally mature and later the same boy became the heartbeat of Indian cricket.
Mohammad Siraj: Father’s dream, country’s duty
The story of Mohammad Siraj is an example of struggle and dedication. His father Mohammad Ghaus was an auto driver, who kept his son’s dreams alive even in difficult circumstances. In the year 2020, when the Indian team was on Australia tour, his father passed away. Due to quarantine rules, Siraj could not return to India and attend the funeral. An emotional Siraj had said that he had lost the biggest support of his life, but his father’s dream was that he should play for the country. Siraj made that dream his strength and played an important role in giving Team India a historic victory by performing brilliantly on Australian soil. This sacrifice was not just personal, but symbolized the spirit in which the country comes first and personal suffering second.
Sachin Tendulkar: The century which was dedicated to his father
Sachin Tendulkar’s father Ramesh Tendulkar passed away during the 1999 World Cup. He was in England at that time. As soon as he received the information, he returned to India, attended the funeral and then joined the team. He scored a century in the match against Kenya. As soon as he completed his century, he looked towards the sky as if he was dedicating this achievement to his father. That innings was not just a century, but a son’s tribute to his father. These incidents show that Indian cricketers are not just players, but an example of responsibility and sacrifice. He proved that Putra Dharma and Rashtra Dharma are not opposed to each other, but complement each other.