We have heard stories of the many great cricketers this nation has produced, who came from humble beginnings and made it big in this highly competitive world of sports. 

People like the Pathan brothers, for instance, have had some inspiring âRags to Richesâ stories.

However, what a lot of people often tend to overlook are the contributions made by these athletesâ parents, to the best of their abilities, to provide a decent way of living and allow their kids to follow their dreams.

Here are 5 Indian cricketers and their parents who worked tirelessly to see their kidsâ dreams come true:

1. MS Dhoni - Pan Singh Dhoni

Dear #Sakshi & @msdhoni!! Thank you for your warmth & hospitality. Loved ur new home. Meeting parents is always a blessing. #RanchiDiaries pic.twitter.com/Er2D3jAU3g

â Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) October 3, 2017

Mahendra Singh Dhoniâs father was a junior manager in MECON, a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Steel of the Government of India. 

Mahiâs calmness and simplicity must come from his dad who just said âachha lagaâ when his son was named the captain of the Indian cricket team in 2007. 

2. Virat Kohli - Prem Kohli

@imVkohli sry chikoo.!late in wishin bt belated HBD 2 ur dad!!Mr.Prem kohli!#respect O:)@shreyakohli07 :). pic.twitter.com/edKzqyTL

â D@NTE (@sidevil02) October 7, 2012

Virat Kohli has always talked about how his father was one of the biggest supporters of his passion for the game. 

While he was a criminal lawyer, he was also involved in online share trading. One day, a bad transaction led to a brain stroke and Viratâs father passed away a couple of weeks after the incident. 

The Indian skipper says that one moment in his life changed him completely.

3. Irfan Pathan & Yusuf Pathan - Mehmood Khan Pathan

Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) Tweeted:
The happiness on his face is priceless #ABBA #father #memories pic.twitter.com/z9dlzIYtCF (https://t.co/NyLUI9Xerw)

â Jyotisankar Bhoi (@JyotisankarBhoi) April 15, 2020

The Pathan brothers spent their childhood in Vadodara's Jama Masjid where their father worked as a muezzin. He also used to work a second job, a seven-hour shift in a chemical factory nearby. 

He was, however, asked to vacate his one-room tenement because the mosque management thought he didnât take care of a copy of the Quran in 2005. Mehmood Khan, however, believed that he was fired because the authorities were jealous of him and his sons.

4. Suresh Raina - Trilok Chand Raina View this post on InstagramA post shared by (@sureshraina3)

Suresh Rainaâs father is a retired military officer from Rainawari area of Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir who, according to the cricketer himself, did his best to keep the family happy even though there wasnât a lot of money at home. 

In the 1980s, Rainaâs father decided to move to Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh where Sureshâs talents as an athlete were truly recognised. 

5. Prithvi Shaw - Pankaj Shaw

The greatest gift I ever had came from god, I CALL HIM DAD! Happy Father day my Hero â¥ï¸â¥ï¸ pic.twitter.com/8RBtrkhnHj

â Prithvi Shaw (@PrithviShaw) June 16, 2019

While Prithvi Shaw was referred to as the âNext Sachin Tendulkarâ in his initial days, his dream of wearing an Indian jersey was realised by the sacrifices made by his father. 

Pankaj, who used to run a small garment shop, sold his business only to focus on his sonâs career as a cricketer.

View the full article