Unmukt Chand announced retirement from cricket in India, has said that he has a solid 10 years of cricket left in him. He admitted that leaving Indian cricket was a tough and an emotional decision, but he faced quite a bit of politics in the last few years, which prompted him to take the call.
Chand was tipped to be the next big thing in Indian cricket after he smashed a stunning ton and led his team to victory in the Under-19 World Cup final in 2012. However, things went on a downward spiral.
Despite being fairly consistent, he did not come anywhere close to being picked by the Indian team and even lost his place in his state side, Delhi. However, Chand last featured for Delhi in a Ranji Trophy game in January 2020. His last List ‘A’ and T20 games came in 2019.
Hence, he has now decided to bid adieu to cricket in India and will ply his trade in the United States of America. The Delhi-born batsman has signed a three-year deal with USA’s Major League Cricket.
“It’s a tough one for someone like me, who has always dreamed of playing for the country. And most of it very emotional one as well and obviously, having played every other cricket, except for the senior team, I think it was a very painful call.
But then the last few years have not been very kind to me in terms of facing a lot of association politics among other things,”
Chand was quoted saying to Cricbuzz.
Moreover, the 28-year-old feels that he has 10 years of cricket left in him. He said that the goal is still the same and continues to aspire to play international cricket but for a different country now.
“I am only 28. I have 10 solid years of cricket left in me. I wasn’t getting a lot of game time in India in the past couple of years. The means may have changed but the goal is still the same to be the batsman I can be and play international cricket,”
Chand added.
Chand averages 31.57, 41.33 and 22.35 in first-class, List ‘A’ and T20 cricket, respectively. He has scored 18 hundreds and 53 half-centuries in the three formats combined.
