Team India has always been known for grooming its players right from the early days and we had one success story for the U-19 team in 2012 as well, where India went on to win the ICC U-19 World Cup yet again, this time led by a young Delhi boy called Unmukt Chand. Prior to this win, only Mohammad Kaif (2000), and Virat Kohli (2008) brought home the junior World Cup for India.
More recently, Prithvi Shaw did it in 2018 and apart from Chand, all the other three enjoyed or are still enjoying a decent stint and career for the senior team. However, Chand wasn’t as lucky after his junior days. When we saw him bat in that tournament, it seemed like a berth in Team India was nearly booked, but nearly ten years since that U-19 victory, Unmukt didn’t get a single international cap in any format!
He had a brief stint with Delhi Daredevils, Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) but even here, he was never a first choice pick in the playing eleven. He managed only 21 IPL games over the years where he got a best score of 58 and his last game in that tournament came way back in IPL 2016.
In the domestic circuit also, he played 120 List A games and 67 FC games where he got a total of 15 centuries in both formats combined, but that spark never seemed to ignite again. It could’ve been really frustrating with a career graph like his and yesterday, he announced his retirement from Indian cricket, so that he can pursue cricketing aspirations elsewhere in the world.
SEE ALSO: List of leading sports betting websites
As per BCCI rules, one can’t play in overseas leagues and franchise tournaments unless they’ve retired from the Indian circuit and that’s what Unmukt decided to finally do. In fact, the 28-year old is not the first one to do the same, with big names like Yuvraj Singh, Manpreet Gony, Pravin Tambe, Irfan Pathan and others also retiring to play in overseas leagues.
“I’m delighted to take the next step in my cricket career by being part of the long-term growth of American cricket and the launch of Major League Cricket,” said Unmukt in a statement, a few hours after announcing his retirement from the game in India. He’s signed a multi-year contract with the American league and will represent Silicon Valley Strikers for the 2021 season.
The tournament launched in 2021 will see 400+ professional cricketers taking part and we’re seeing an increasing number of cricketers leaving their home countries to join the same. 27 city-based teams will participate in 200 matches across 26 venues and he’s going to make his debut in the tournament today against Socal Lashings.
“Being an eternal optimist, I feel the road ahead of me is going to lead me to an exciting new journey and I can add much more value to it. I feel more complete as a cricketer and a human being and I am ready to take the leap of faith and enter into a new territory and contribute my best,” he added in his statement.
For similar cricketing updates from across the world, stay tuned to ReadScoops.com…
Register on Betway and get massive FREE Bets every week
