Uttarakhand CM to aid Pant land purchase

Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant has publicly appealed to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami for assistance in purchasing land in his home state, prompting a swift and positive response from the government. The unusual request was made via social media in the early hours of Saturday, August 8, 2026, while Pant is on tour with the Indian team in Sri Lanka.

In a post directed at the chief minister, Pant explained he has been trying for nearly three years to buy land to shift his base from Delhi to Uttarakhand but has found the process frustrating and unclear. He described land acquisition as a "nightmare" and referenced a plot he believed he was supposed to receive earlier for promoting the state, which had not materialized. Pant emphasized his desire to return to his native region, be closer to his community, and contribute to its development.

He followed up with a second post clarifying his position, stating that while a gift of land would be a lovely recognition for representing Uttarakhand internationally, he is willing to purchase the land from the government at standard rates. He expressed a simple goal of building his first house in his home state and admitted he...