Pant’s appeal for land in his home state
India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has publicly requested assistance from the Uttarakhand government to acquire land in his native state. His aim is to build a home and relocate his base from Delhi to Uttarakhand. This appeal was made directly to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.
Pant, who hails from Roorkee in Uttarakhand’s Haridwar district, expressed his desire to return to his roots and contribute to the state’s development. He stated that he has been attempting to acquire suitable land in Uttarakhand for approximately three years but has encountered difficulties in finding a property that meets his requirements.
In his appeal on social media platform X, Pant clarified that he was not seeking a free gift of land. Instead, he expressed his willingness to purchase the land from the government at official rates. He emphasized his wish to construct his first home in his own state.
Chief Minister Dhami assures support
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami responded positively to Pant’s request, assuring him of full support from the state government. Dhami highlighted Pant’s achievements in cricket and his representation of the country, noting that he has brought pride to Uttarakhand.
The Chief Minister confirmed that the matter has been referred to relevant officials, who will discuss the details with Pant and provide the necessary assistance. Dhami stated that anyone wishing to return to Uttarakhand is welcome, especially individuals like Pant who have achieved national and international recognition.
In his response on X, Dhami wrote, “Dear Rishabh, you are the pride of Uttarakhand. With your splendid performance and achievements, you have illuminated the name of Devbhoomi in the country and the world. Your love for your motherland and your sentiment of returning here to contribute are highly commendable.” He further added that instructions have been issued to concerned officials to contact Pant and ensure cooperation in accordance with the rules.
Pant’s financial contributions and cricketing career
Rishabh Pant’s appeal follows his recent recognition as the highest individual taxpayer from Uttarakhand for the 2025-26 financial year. He reportedly paid ₹23.84 crore in taxes, marking the second consecutive year he has topped this list in the state. This tax contribution more than doubled from the previous financial year, when he paid approximately ₹10.5 crore in advance tax.
His substantial tax payments reflect his earnings from various sources, including his BCCI contract, IPL salary, match fees, and endorsement deals. Pant was acquired by Lucknow Super Giants for ₹27 crore, making him one of the most expensive players in the league at that time. During the assessed period, he also held a Grade A BCCI contract, with an annual retainership of ₹5 crore. He has since moved to Grade B, with an annual retainership of ₹3 crore.
Pant’s commercial endorsements further contribute to his income, with associations including Adidas, Dream11, SG, Thums Up, Cadbury, boAt, Noise, Zomato, JSW Cement, and MakeMyTrip. Although he currently represents Delhi in domestic cricket, his strong connection to Uttarakhand remains evident.
On the cricketing front, Pant is a key member of India’s Test setup. He has scored 3,557 runs in 50 Tests at an average of 43.37, including eight centuries and 19 fifties. Additionally, he has accumulated 871 runs in 31 ODIs and 1,209 runs in 76 T20Is. Recently, Pant returned to Delhi Capitals after being traded by Lucknow Super Giants for a revised fee of ₹15 crore, while spinner Kuldeep Yadav moved to Lucknow for ₹13.50 crore. He is currently part of the India A squad, playing a three-day unofficial Test against Sri Lanka Cricket XI in Colombo, ahead of India’s two-Test series against Sri Lanka, which is scheduled to begin in Galle on August 15.
Source: m.rediff.com
