Saikiran Uppuluri
Saikiran Uppuluri
Unmukt Chand, once a promising talent in Indian cricket, finds himself on the sidelines yet again, this time in the USA squad selection. Despite three prolific seasons in the Minor League Cricket (MiLC) and a strong showing in national T20 and practice games, Chand has been left out of the 15-man squad for the upcoming T20I series against Canada. With over 1500 runs in 45 MiLC innings, Chand ranks second on the all-time run charts, making his omission all the more surprising.
Chand’s journey from India to the USA was fueled by the hope of a fresh start and international opportunities. However, his exclusion from the squad raises questions about the selection criteria and the challenges faced by players transitioning between cricketing nations. While Chand’s form in the MiLC has been impressive, it seems that his performances in the recent national T20 and practice games may have fallen short of the selectors’ expectations, leading to his snub.
The omission of Chand, along with other notable names like Shayan Jahangir and Shehan Jayasuriya, highlights the competitive nature of cricket in the USA and the difficult choices faced by selectors. As the USA squad prepares for the T20I series against Canada, Chand’s absence serves as a reminder of the uncertainties and challenges faced by players seeking to make their mark in international cricket, even after making bold decisions to switch allegiances between.
