Rishabh Pant, known for his cricketing heroics, has now displayed generosity off the field by funding the college fees of Jyoti Kanabur, a student from Vijayapura. Overcoming financial constraints, Jyoti's parents, who run a small eatery, struggled to afford her education.

VIJAYAPURA: India's wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is well-known for his on-field valor. His swashbuckling, series-winning unbeaten 89 at the Gabba in Australia in 2021 is as much a part of cricketing folklore as is the image of him hobbling out to bat with a fractured toe in the recent Manchester Test against England and completing a half-century.

Now, the lion-hearted cricketer has added one more feather to his cap - this time with an off-the-field gesture, playing Good Samaritan to a needy college student from Bilagi taluk in Vijayapura district. The Delhi cricketer has funded Jyoti Kanabur's college fees of Rs 40,000, thereby keeping her degree-course dreams alive. The student from Rabakavi village told TOI she had scored 83% in PU Commerce.

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However, with her parents earning just about Rs 15,000 a month from the humble eatery they run in their village, funding a Rs 40,000 college fee was a far cry. In a desperate bid to make ends meet, they borrowed that amount from individuals in their village. In a huge relief to Jyoti and her family, the burden of that Rs 40,000 loan has been taken off their shoulders in one go - thanks to Pant. "We are relieved that Pant has paid the entire amount," said Jyoti, who had pursued her PU at New English PU College in neighboring Galagali village.

Pant paid fee directly Jyoti is the youngest of our four children, and the first to join a degree course," said a visibly elated Tirthayya and Roopa, Jyoti's parents.

Jyoti's family initially approached Anil Hunashimatti, a village contractor and well-wisher, for help, who had once heard about another Indian cricketer, KL Rahul, offering financial assistance to a needy undergraduate student in Dharwad. Hunashimatti got in touch with a person who earlier knew Rahul and is currently known to Pant, and the wicketkeeper-batsman was approached for help, who readily answered the call.

Srikant Lagali, the administrator for BLDE Association at Commerce, BHS Arts, and TGP Science College, Jamkhandi, said: "During accounts verification, we found out that Jyoti had paid the fees twice, with one payment coming directly from Rishabh Pant. After speaking to Jyoti, we immediately refunded Rs 40,000 to her." He further said the association has been offering free education to about 70 needy students every year.

"Many of our students, like Chaitra Burji, Sushma Gugad, and others, have represented the Indian cycling team at international events such as the Asean Games. Had Jyoti approached us, we would have waived her fees, too," Lagali said, adding that the association has sent a 'thank you' note to Pant.