Former India Under-19 World Cup-winning captain Unmukt Chand recently opened up about the challenging time he faced when he was not selected for the USA’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad. Unmukt Chand speaks on T20 World Cup 2024 USA squad snub.
The 31-year-old had moved to the USA with the aspiration of playing international cricket and had put in impressive performances in various T20 leagues and Minor League Cricket (MiLC). Despite his efforts, he was not included in the Monank Patel-led USA squad.
Here’s what Unmukt Chand said
A few months after the disappointment, Chand finally shared his feelings, describing the exclusion as a ‘big shock’ for him. He had been hopeful that his consistent performances would earn him a spot on the team, making the snub particularly difficult to accept.
Chand’s revelation highlights the emotional toll that selection decisions can take on players who have dedicated themselves to achieving their dreams on the international stage.
“That wasn’t an ideal situation to be in. Because personally for me, this was what I had dreamed for the last three years. Obviously, it was a big shock. And it took me time to sort of come to terms with it. It’s never easy as a player, having lost all those things back home in India, to have this one goal, which had kept me going for the last three years not happening,” Unmukt said, as quoted by Cricbuzz, during the ongoing Major League Cricket (MLC) 2024.
“So it is difficult. I won’t say which just happened. But it was difficult. I was not my best self for some time,” he added.
“The reality would hit me in different phases” -Unmukt Chand
After his big disappointment at not getting selected for the T20 World Cup squad of USA, the Delhi born cricketer opted to go for a practice session with his old coach in Mumbai.
Unmukt contributed with a 45-ball 68 in the win against Texas Super Kings for Knight Riders’ first match in Los Angeles. Meanwhile the team he worked hard for, in the last 3 years, was playing the World Cup matches. USA managed to defeat Pakistan in the group stage, getting a position in the Super 8.
“That was a very internal battle and it’s a sucker basically. It keeps sucking you inside and inside,” he recalled.
“That feeling would linger on for a day and then go away and then come back again. The reality would hit me in different phases. Once you keep going through that automatically you keep getting better. There comes a time when you’re like it didn’t happen, that’s it. I’m not even thinking about it.” Unmukt admitted.
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