Heartbroken cricketer to play on despite losing one-day-old daughter and dad in two weeks

Indian cricketer Vishnu Solanki has decided to continue playing for Baroda in the Ranji Trophy despite the tragic deaths of his one-day-old daughter and 75-year-old father.

While in quarantine with his teammates on February 11 ahead of the start of the competition, Solanki was told that his wife had given birth to their first child.

However, the following day he was informed by Baroda's team manager, Dharmendra Arothe, that his daughter had tragically passed away.

Solanki immediately flew home to be with his wife and missed Baroda's first game, a four-wicket defeat to Bengal.

He linked back up with the squad on February 17 and played in their second game against Chandigarh, scoring a heroic unbeaten century, his first in more than three years, which he dedicated to his daughter.

During that match, Solanki was hit by yet more tragedy as his father passed away after spending two months in the hospital.

Solanki was allowed to use his phone in the dressing room to speak to his loved ones and he was forced to watch his father's funeral remotely, with Arothe telling ESPNcricinfo: "He saw the funeral of his dad virtually from the dressing room."

The 29-year-old was given the option of returning home, but has instead decided to remain with Baroda and is determined to feature in their upcoming group game against Hyderabad which begins on March 3.

A Baroda cricket chief told PTI: "Vishnu had the option of not returning after his daughter's death but the team man that he is, he didn't want to leave his team in the lurch. That's what makes him a special human being."

Saurashtra wicketkeeper Sheldon Jackson paid tribute to Solanki on Twitter, writing: "What a player . Has to be the toughest player i have known. A big salute to