Jonty Rhodes becomes father amidst IPL, names daughter ‘India’
Mumbai: Former South Africa cricketer Jonty Rhodes, now the fielding coach of Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Mumbai Indians, was blessed with a baby girl here on Thursday afternoon. The cricketer, with wife Melanie, decided to name their daughter ‘India’.
The baby, born in Surya Mother and Child Care Hospital in Santacruz (West) in the midst of IPL, is a water baby.
According to reports, the couple had been preparing for the water birth – not common in India – for a long time.
@mipaltan good luck tonight from baby Rhodes!! India Jeanne Rhodes born 3:29pm weighing 3.7kg! Mum and baby perfect #ApunKaSuperstars
— Jonty Rhodes (@JontyRhodes8) April 23, 2015
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The concept of water birth is highly recommended in the UK and US because it creates a natural habitat for the baby and is less painful for the mother.
But the hospitals in Mumbai have been offering water birth for quite a long time now and it seems that Melanie, away from her own country, did not face much problem in labor.
However, Rhodes is not the only one whose daughter has an Indian connection. Former New Zealand cricketer Dion Nash had also named his daughter ‘India Lily’.
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