Rishabh Pant seeks Uttarakhand land, CM Dhami assures help

In the dead of night, Rishabh Pant turned to Twitter with an unusual request. The Indian wicketkeeper-batter, known for his explosive strokeplay, asked Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami for help — not with cricket, but with land.

"Sir, I want to buy land in Uttarakhand. Please help me," Pant wrote in a tweet that has since gone viral. The 28-year-old, who has often spoken about his emotional connection to the hill state, called it his "home" and expressed frustration at the difficulty of purchasing property there.

CM Dhami's swift response

Within hours, Chief Minister Dhami responded publicly, assuring Pant of full support. "Officials will contact you," Dhami tweeted, adding that the state government would facilitate the process. The exchange, which unfolded past midnight, quickly became the talk of social media.

Dhami's office later confirmed that the state's revenue department has been directed to coordinate with Pant's team. While details of the land parcel or location have not been disclosed, sources suggest Pant is keen on acquiring property in the Nainital or Dehradun regions, though officials have not yet confirmed specifics.

A rough day in Colombo

The land appeal, however, came on a forgettable day for Pant on the field. In the second ODI against Sri Lanka in Colombo, Pant managed just two runs before being dismissed, a knock that drew sharp criticism from fans and pundits alike. His twin late-night tweets — one about land, another about his love for Uttarakhand — were juxtaposed against his poor score, and social media had a field day.

"Two midnight tweets for land, two runs in Colombo," read one viral post, summing up the irony. Memes and jokes flooded timelines, with some defending Pant's right to plan his post-retirement life even as others questioned his focus during a crucial series.

Why Uttarakhand matters to Pant

Pant's connection to Uttarakhand is well-documented. He was born in Roorkee, now in Uttarakhand's Haridwar district, and spent his early years there before moving to Delhi for cricketing opportunities. Over the years, he has frequently spoken about his desire to return to his roots, and this land purchase appears to be a step in that direction.

The appeal also highlights a broader issue — the difficulty of buying land in Uttarakhand, especially for non-residents. The state's land laws, which restrict property purchase by outsiders in certain areas, have long been a point of contention. Pant's public plea, and the CM's quick assurance, may signal a smoother path for him, though whether it sets a precedent for others remains to be seen.

What happens next

With the CM's office promising assistance, Pant's land hunt is likely to move forward in the coming weeks. For now, the cricketer's focus shifts back to the ongoing series in Sri Lanka, where he will look to silence critics with the bat. Whether the Uttarakhand dream materialises, and how it shapes his post-cricket plans, will be worth watching.