Former U-19 World Cup-winning captain Unmukt Chand has decided to call time on his Indian cricket career. He announced on Friday that he will retire from Indian cricket to seek better opportunities around the world. Chand took to his official Twitter handle to share a long note, in which he confirmed that he is retiring from Indian cricket but is open to taking opportunities around the world.
“After thinking for a while, I still could not find the perfect beginning to this letter. Writing this down brings out mixed emotions in me. I don’t know how I should be feeling cause honestly I am still figuring it out. The very thought of not being able to represent my country again literally stops my heartbeat for a while,” Chand wrote on his official Twitter profile.
“I have grown up playing cricket with just one and only dream of playing for India. The love for this game has been very pure for me and I am grateful to have achieved a few milestones along the way. From getting up early in the morning for training, scheduling my entire day around cricket and trying to find out ways to become a better player has always been my drive and motivation and still keeps me going as the journey is only halfway through.
“Playing amongst the best players in India and across the world has taught me a lot. I would also like to thank DDCA for giving me an opportunity so early on in my career to rub shoulders with the stalwarts of Delhi and Indian cricket. Having spent time around these legends for so many years has been instrumental in my own. journey. I want to thank all my fellow players, coaches, support staff for bringing out the best in me. I will forever cherish these memories.
“Lastly, I would like to say that 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.
After the Under-19 World Cup title win in 2021, Unmukt went on to captain the India A team as well, during his golden period he was also considered as one of the main batting stays of the Delhi state team but everything fell like a house of cards in the year 2016. First, he got dropped from Delhi’s one-day team, then he lost his IPL contract and the final nail in Unmukt’s coffin came in the form of him losing his place in the India A side as well.
