Unmukt Chand, the captain who led India to a thrilling Under-19 World Cup victory in 2012, had a promising start to his cricketing career. Having made his first-class debut back in 2010, Chand was quickly considered one of the brightest young talents in Indian cricket. His performance, including a stellar 151 in his fifth Ranji Trophy match, along with an 18-year-old IPL debut, painted a picture of a player destined for big things.
Early Promises and Debut Success
Chand’s early career was nothing short of impressive. He was a regular feature in Delhi’s domestic team, and his consistency earned him recognition on the national stage. His U-19 World Cup triumph in 2012, where he led a young Indian squad to victory, only elevated expectations. But while many thought it was just the beginning of a successful cricketing journey, the reality turned out to be much different.
However, things took a drastic turn for Chand in 2017, marking a shift in his cricketing journey. Despite his solid performances for Delhi and his leadership role in India A, Chand found himself sidelined, with his place in the Delhi team increasingly uncertain.
Politics and the Fall of a Promising Career
Chand believes that internal politics within the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) played a significant role in his downfall. According to him, everything was running smoothly under the leadership of Gautam Gambhir, who served as Delhi’s captain. Gambhir’s strong leadership style and his unwavering support for players helped keep the team stable.
However, after Gambhir’s retirement, Delhi cricket faced internal conflicts and instability. Chand, once considered the future of Delhi cricket, became a casualty of these shifts. As he revealed in an interview with Lallantop, “Until 2017, when Gautam Gambhir remained Delhi captain, nothing went wrong in the team because he was a very strong leader. He fought for players and backed them.”
Chand’s exclusion from the team, despite being the captain of India A and consistently performing at the domestic level, left him disillusioned. He believes that his removal from the Delhi team was the result of a politically charged environment within the DDCA, calling it a “scapegoat” decision by selectors. “I felt bad that I served the Delhi team for such a long time and did reasonably well too, and then they made me the scapegoat,” Chand added.
The Final Move: From India to the USA
Unable to regain his spot in the Delhi side, Unmukt Chand made the tough decision to leave Indian cricket altogether. His move to the Big Bash League with the Melbourne Renegades marked the beginning of his journey in international leagues. Chand’s career took another turn when he registered himself as a player for the USA and played for the Los Angeles Knight Riders in the Major League Cricket. While his story in Indian cricket serves as a cautionary tale, Chand continues to make strides in his cricketing career on the global stage.
In the end, Unmukt Chand’s journey in cricket exemplifies how talent alone isn’t always enough in a sport often dictated by politics and internal dynamics. His story stands as a reminder of how quickly the course of a career can change, even for a promising player at the peak of his potential.
