Cricket / Krunal reveals he kept late father's clothes in dressing room on debut, shares pics

Cricket Desk: Krunal Pandya has been in the news as much for his scintillating batting performance on his ODI debut for Team India against England, as he has been for his emotional reaction after the innings.

The older Pandya sibling broke down during the mid-innings interview as he was overcome by emotions, thinking about his late father who had passed away recently. Pandya senior had played a huge role in helping both Hardik and Krunal realise their dreams of playing cricket at the highest level.

After the match, Hardik interviewed Krunal for the BCCI website in which Krunal revealed an emotional detail and the close relationship both the brothers shared with their father.

"So basically the thing is, he passed away on 16th morning and I was playing Syed Mushtaq Ali on that day. He had a habit of keeping his clothes ready in the night, his shoes, his pant, his shirt, hat as well.

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A post shared by Krunal himanshu Pandya (@krunalpandya_official)

"So what I did was just before the game, I got his bag from Baroda here, and I thought, I know he is not with us, but those clothes, which he was supposed to wear in that game, I thought I'll bring that and keep in the dressing room," Krunal revealed on BCCI's official website.

Krunal scored the fastest half-century on debut in just 26 balls and shared a crucial 112-run partnership with KL Rahul that allowed India to post a total 317 for 5, batting first.

"Obviously, I worked so hard to be here...not just in cricket, but in terms of everything, taking care of my diet to fitness, to everything and again this is all dedicated to the old man.

Krunal had also tweeted photos of his father's belongings that he has been carrying with him.

Hardik, on his part, revealed that Krunal's body language showed his love for their late father.

"It shows in your body language as well, but not many people know, our father is actually with us in the dressing room, Krunal has been carrying...our father passed away at 4 o'clock in the morning and he was someone who used to always keep his stuff ready for the next day.

"Krunal has been carrying the bag which has his (stuff)," revealed Hardik.

Krunal, a left-handed batsman, and a slow-left arm orthodox bowler, who has played 18 T20s, has been also playing for five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians.