Unmukt Chand quits BCCI cricket

In all probability, Chand will play in a T20 league in the United States, like his U-19 World Cup winning team-mate Smit Patel

Mumbai: Unmukt Chand, who had led India to U-19 World Cup title triumph but struggled to replicate his success at the senior level, on Friday announced his retirement from all forms of the game.

Chand, 28, announced the decision on social media with a series of tweets and a lengthy note along with his some memorable videos. In all probability, Chand will play in a T20 league in the United States, like his U-19 World Cup winning team-mate Smit Patel. To compete there, he needed to announce his retirement since the BCCI does not allow its registered players to compete in foreign T20 Leagues.

---

“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,” Unmukt wrote in the lengthy note.

Chand, a right-handed batsman and off-break bowler, who led India to 2012 U19 World Cup win, soon became a household name in the country. Chand was the ‘Man of the Match’ in the final, as his 111 not out had shaped India’s victory. “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,” the former U-19 skipper further wrote. He also thanked the BCCI and described winning the U-19 World Cup as the biggest moment of his life.

“Big thanks to BCCI for giving cricketers like me a platform to express and showcase our skills through so many camps, age group and senior board tournaments and the IPL. “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.

After his U19 exploits, former Australia skipper Ian Chappell had written in one his columns that he should be included in the Indian team. For Chand things happened at a break-neck speed as he landed a big television commercial with the legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virat Kohli.

The Delhi-born top-order batsman wrote his World Cup memoir, something that had even amused former India captain Rahul Dravid. But there were also many instances in his life, which did not go down well with former cricketers.