Priya Punia's Father Inspired Her With Virat Kohli's Example After Mother's Demise

Priya Punia, a rising Indian women’s cricketer recently lost her mother, Saroj, due to Covid-19. Just days after that, the 24-year-old joined the India team’s bubble as she is selected to tour England for the all-format tour.

Priya Punia’s father, Surendra, reveals that he had cited the example of Indian men’s captain, Virat Kohli, to motivate her to play cricket again following her mother’s demise. A young Virat Kohli had continued to play in a domestic game a day after his father passed away.

“She was doing fine, but after oxygen supply disturbance, her oxygen level dropped and had to be put on ventilator support. But we couldn’t save her,” Priya Punia’s father told Times of India .

“I inspired Priya. I told her that Virat Kohli had gone to play Ranji Trophy after his father’s death. This is a very difficult time for us, but we need to be mentally strong. There will be many occasions in life when you have to fight challenges and move forward. Priya understands this and she told me that, Papa I am ready to represent India,” he added.

Hailing from Jaipur, Priya Punia has scored 225 runs in her 7 ODI career so far.

Other Indian cricketers losing family members to covid-19

Before Priya Punia’s loss of her mother, other Indian cricketers have also been bereaved of family members owing to the deadly virus. The latest of who is batsman Abhinav Mukund, who lost his grandfather to the virus.

There were other players as well who are at loss: Shiv Prasad Singh, father of former India bowler RP Singh; Piyush Chawla’s father Pramod Kumar; Kanjibhai, Chetan Sakariya’s father; Vatsala Shivakumar and Cheluvamaba Devi, India Women batter Veda Krishnamurthy’s sister and mother respectively; and many other former cricketers and associated people have succumbed to covid-19.

Also Read: ‘I Literally Didn’t Know How To React’ : Washington Sundar On Rishabh Pant’s Stunning Reverse-Sweep Off James Anderson