Rishabh Pant's land appeal in Uttarakhand: CM Dhami says 'he is welcome'
Synopsis
Rishabh Pant's late-night post on X — a three-year-old land hunt and a public plea to Uttarakhand's Chief Minister — drew an immediate political response. Dhami's open-door assurance puts the state government on record, but the real question is whether bureaucratic follow-through will match the warm words.
Key Takeaways
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami on 8 August said Rishabh Pant is 'absolutely welcome' to return to the state.
Dhami assured that state officials would discuss Pant's land acquisition request and provide assistance if required.
Rishabh Pant made a public appeal on X at around 12:46 am , saying he had been searching for suitable land in Uttarakhand for nearly three years .
Pant, born in Roorkee , said he wants to shift his base from Delhi back to his 'native place' and contribute to the state's development.
No formal commitment, mechanism, or timeline for land allocation has been announced by the state government.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday, 8 August extended an open invitation to cricketer Rishabh Pant, saying the India wicketkeeper-batter is 'absolutely welcome' to return to the state and assuring that government officials would engage with his request for help in acquiring land. Dhami's response came after Pant made a late-night public appeal on X (formerly Twitter) seeking the Chief Minister's assistance in relocating his base from Delhi to Uttarakhand.
What Dhami Said
'Anyone who wishes to come here is absolutely welcome. After all, Pant belongs to our state. He has made a big name for himself and for the state. He has also played for the country and brought it glory, so he is welcome. Our officials will discuss everything with him. If he requires anything at all, we will certainly provide it,' Dhami said.
The Chief Minister's remarks signal that the state government is prepared to engage directly with Pant over his land acquisition request, though no formal commitment or timeline has been announced.
Pant's Late-Night Appeal on X
Rishabh Pant posted his appeal at around 12:46 am, tagging @pushkardhami and describing a three-year struggle to find suitable property in Uttarakhand. In his post, Pant said he had been unable to locate 'anything facilitating and big' to meet his requirements, and described the land acquisition process as a 'nightmare' in terms of clarity.
Pant also mentioned that some land he was 'supposedly' set to receive — reportedly in connection with his earlier promotional work for the state — had not been transferred to him. 'I wanna move back to my native place to help and build around Uttarakhand,' he wrote, adding that he wanted to 'shift back to my Pahadi people.'
Pant's Roots in Uttarakhand
Rishabh Pant was born in Roorkee, Uttarakhand, and comes from a Kumaoni family. Despite spending much of his professional cricket career in Delhi — where he plays for Delhi in domestic cricket — he has consistently spoken about his deep ties to the hill state. His family's roots in Uttarakhand have remained a central part of his public identity.
Notably, this is not the first time Pant has publicly expressed his desire to return to his home state. The cricketer has previously spoken about wanting to contribute to Uttarakhand's development, and his latest appeal appears to be a continuation of that sentiment.
What Happens Next
Chief Minister Dhami indicated that state officials would hold discussions with Pant to examine his requirements and determine what assistance the government can provide. No specific mechanism or timeline for the land allocation has been made public. The matter is now expected to move into official channels, with both sides having expressed willingness to engage.
Point of View
Unpolished, clearly not drafted by a PR team — cut through in a way a formal request never would have. Dhami's swift, public response is savvy optics: Uttarakhand benefits from Pant's star power, and being seen as welcoming him home costs nothing. The harder test is what happens in the district collector's office. Pant's reference to land he was 'supposedly' owed for promoting the state raises a more pointed question that the Chief Minister's warm words did not address — and that mainstream coverage has largely glossed over.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Rishabh Pant seeking land in Uttarakhand?
Rishabh Pant wants to shift his base from Delhi to Uttarakhand, his home state where he was born in Roorkee. He has been searching for a suitably large property for nearly three years and made a public appeal to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami after being unable to find one through normal channels.
What did CM Dhami say in response to Rishabh Pant's appeal?
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said Pant is 'absolutely welcome' to return to Uttarakhand and that state officials would discuss his requirements and provide assistance if needed. No specific timeline or formal mechanism was announced.
How did Rishabh Pant make his appeal to the Uttarakhand government?
Pant posted a late-night message on X (formerly Twitter) at around 12:46 am, tagging CM Dhami directly. In the post, he described a three-year struggle to find suitable land and said the acquisition process had become a 'nightmare' in terms of clarity.
What is Rishabh Pant's connection to Uttarakhand?
Rishabh Pant was born in Roorkee, Uttarakhand, and comes from a Kumaoni family. Despite building his cricket career in Delhi, he has consistently spoken about his roots in the hill state and his desire to contribute to its development.
Has any land been formally allocated to Rishabh Pant by the Uttarakhand government?
No formal land allocation has been announced. Pant mentioned in his post that some land he was reportedly due to receive — linked to his earlier promotional work for the state — had not been transferred to him. The matter is now expected to move into official discussions.
