U-19 Fame Unmukt Chand Retires From Cricket At 28, Thanks BCCI & DDCA

Unmukt Chand also led India in List A series'. He announced his retirement on Twitter and thanked BCCI and DDCA (Delhi & District Cricket Association) for their support. 

Unmukt Chand in June 2021. (Image: Twitter/ @UnmuktChand9)

India's U-19 winning captain and top-order batsman - who also played in the IPL - has decided to quit playing all forms of cricket. He was also part of Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Chand played his First-class cricket as a Delhi player and made his debut at the age of 18. He was still in school when he scored his first FC hundred. As of August 2021, he is just 28 years old. 

Unmukt Chand also led India in List A series'. He announced his retirement on Twitter and thanked BCCI and DDCA (Delhi & District Cricket Association) for their support. 

"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," he wrote.

T1- On to the next innings of my life #JaiHind🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/fEEJ9xOdlt

— Unmukt Chand (@UnmuktChand9) August 13, 2021

He reiterated that BCCI is the biggest cricket board in the world and thanked them for their support. "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. Definitely the hallmark of the biggest cricket board in the world," Chand wrote. 

Then he remembered some of his fond memories from his cricketing career. India's U-19 World Cup win of 2012 is among Chand's best achievments. "Winning the U-19 World cup for India is one of the biggest moments of my life. It was a special feeling to lift the cup as a captain and bring smiles to so many Indians across the world. I can never forget that feeling. Also, leading India A on numerous occasions and winning various bilateral and tri-series are etched in my memory forever," said Chand. 

"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." 

Unmukt Chand played his last IPL match in 2016 while his first-class career has been quite average.