Unmukt Chand, the former captain of India’s U-19 World Cup winning team, has not had the Minor Cricket League season begin on the positive note he would have hoped for. Unmukt was eliminated in his debut with a three-ball duck.
Zubair Murad of the San Diego Surf Riders dismissed Silicon Valley Strikers’ Unmukt when he was opening the batting for his team in the T20 game in California. However, Strikers went on to score 156/4 due to Shehan Jayasuriya’s 74, a former Sri Lankan international who earlier this year moved to the United States to resume his cricket career.
In response, the Riders scored 141/4, with the Strikers winning by 15 runs.
Unmukt, 28, stated on Friday that he is quitting his cricket career in India. The following day, he signed a multi-year contract with the Minor Cricket League.
I don't think Unmukt Chand will be sharing this on his Instagram Stories anytime soon. Third-ball duck on @MiLCricket debut for the ex-India 2012 U19 World Cup winning captain. He was opening the batting for Silicon Valley Strikers in Morgan Hill, California today. pic.twitter.com/El0G1fLmP1
— Peter Della Penna (@PeterDellaPenna) August 15, 2021
Unmukt stated in a release, “I’m thrilled to take the next step in my cricket career by becoming a part of the sustained development of American cricket and the introduction of Major League Cricket.
He said, “I’m pleased to get the chance to play for the Strikers in Minor League Cricket starting this weekend and help promote the sport locally in the Bay Area, where I have already witnessed the amazing passion for the game of cricket.
Unmukt, who defeated Australia in the 2012 U-19 World Cup final with a century that won it, said in a previous statement:
“… I would want to add that opportunities have been missed and things have not been as easy in recent years. I still choose to see the silver lining and with fond memories bid adieu to BCCI and seek better opportunities around the world,” he wrote, implying that he may be open to representing another country at the international level in the future. “A part of me is not at peace with the way things have unfolded in the last few years, but I still choose to see the silver lining.
