Former U-19 World Cup-winning captain Unmukt Chand bids adieu to Indian cricket

By
Triyasha Chatterjee
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Unmukt Chand (PC : Indian Express)

Delhi: One of India’s fine talents, former U-19 World Cup-winning Indian captain Unmukt Chand has announced his retirement at the age of 28 on Friday. He will carry forward his career in a completely new journey with the United States.

Chand wrote an emotional tweet, expressing his gratefulness to BCCI and DDCA for the support they have rendered to him during his career. Once deemed as the next big thing in Indian cricket, Chand played 48 First-Class matches and scored 2690 runs. He also played 79 List A matches in his domestic career. 

“I don’t know how I should be feeling cause honestly I am still figuring it out,” he wrote. “The very thought of not being able to represent my country again literally stops my heartbeat for a while.” Chand, who made his Ranji trophy debut while being at school in 2010-11, scored his maiden century in his debut season scoring 151 runs.

Chand’s career graph went higher after he led India to the U-19 title winning the final against Australia in 2012. In the final, the right-hander hit an unbeaten 111, thus becoming the first U-19 captain to win Down Under. Chand also became a regular in the India A team and also led them to victories against New Zealand A and Bangladesh A in 2013 and 2015 respectively.

“Personally there have been quite a few glorious moments in my cricketing journey in India. Winning the U-19 World cup for India is one of the biggest moments of my life. It was a special feeling to lift the cup as a captain and bring smiles to so many Indians across the world. I can never forget that feeling. Also, leading India A on numerous occasions and winning various bilateral and tri-series are etched in my memory forever,” he added. 

In between 2012 and 2013, Chand had reached his heights scoring back-to-back centuries in the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy scoring 321 runs for Delhi although they were stunned by Odisha in the semifinals. In the same year, Chand led Delhi to their first-ever Vijay Hazare Trophy scoring 116, as they beat Assam by 95 runs.

Chand made his IPL debut in 2013 for Delhi Daredevils before representing Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians in his career. He won the IPL with Mumbai Indians in 2015. Thereafter, Chand experienced a downfall as he was dropped from Delhi’s Vijay Hazare Trophy squad the next year. 

In 2019, Chand moved to Uttarakhand, where he had an underwhelming stint before finally retiring from Indian cricket, to carry forward his career in the US believing he still has a lot left in him. The middle-order batsman will represent Silicon Valley Strikers in the Minor Cricket League.

“Things have not been as smooth in the last few years and opportunities have been denied. Though a part of me is not at peace with the way things have unfolded in the last few years, I still choose to see the silver lining and with fond memories bid adieu to BCCI and seek better opportunities around the world,” wrote Chand.

“Cricket is a universal game and even though the means might change, the end goal is still the same – to play cricket at the highest level,” he added. It is quite a sad ending for a talent who was deemed really promising but could not rise to prominence never representing India internationally at the senior level.

However, Chand still hoped of playing at the highest level and thinks the United States is the most suitable destination for it.

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