Cricketer Rishabh Pant has publicly asked Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to help him buy land in the state, saying he wants to return to his home region, according to The Hindu.
Pant made the appeal in a social media post directed at Dhami, describing the process of acquiring land as a "nightmare," ThePrint reports. The wicketkeeper-batter, who plays for India, stated that he wants to settle in Uttarakhand and asked the chief minister for assistance with the purchase.
Dhami responded on social media, saying that officials will contact Pant to help resolve the matter, according to The Times of India. The chief minister's reply came after Pant's emotional request drew widespread attention online.
The appeal comes at a time when Pant is away with the Indian team in Colombo, where he scored just two runs in a recent match, as reported by Telegraph India. The outlet noted that his midnight tweets about land and his low score on the same day sent social media into a frenzy, with users commenting on the timing of his posts.
Pant's request highlights a broader issue of land acquisition in Uttarakhand, which ThePrint described as difficult for individuals to navigate. The cricketer's public plea to the chief minister is an unusual step for a high-profile athlete, and it remains to be seen whether the state government will facilitate the purchase.
What to watch next is whether Dhami's office follows through on its promise to contact Pant and whether the cricketer secures the land he has asked for.
