Living alone shapes you as an individual, says Unmukt Chand

Cricketers over the years have taken up the art of writing after hanging up their boots and it is a common post retirement trend. From the legendary Sachin Tendulkar to the curly haired sensation Kapil Dev, from the destructive Matthew Hayden to the humble Adam Gilchrist, all have put pen to paper to narrate their lives as a cricketer after parting ways from the profession.

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However, the 24-year-old Unmukt Chand decided to join the league early in his career. The Delhi-born talent who is known to maintain a diary and a dictionary gave the world a hint of his batting prowess when he rode India to victory against the Aussies in the 2012 Under-19 World Cup playing a matured and calm knock of 111. Chand’s approach to life stands out from the others of his age as he hates cribbing over a lost opportunity. The batsman prefers to figure out the loopholes in his game and nail them with perfection.

Unmukt Chand, in his effort to revive his career, spent two months with Colne Club in the Lancashire League in England recently. Speaking to Sportstar Live Chand said “The trip was not only about cricket. It had a lot to do with a change of lifestyle. I wanted to spend time with myself to focus better. Living alone and cooking your meals can change you as a person,”.

“When I wasn’t there in the IPL this year, I thought I needed to do something different to change my approach. I wanted to fine-tune my craft and club cricket there helped me find my mental space,” he added.

Chand, who was once tipped to be a replica of present Indian skipper Virat Kohli, did not have a steady bunch, but it helped the batsman polish his individuality. “Once I start playing in the domestic season ahead, I will be able to analyse how much I have improved as a cricketer. I scored 140 in one of the matches, which felt good. But my team was a weak one. If I got out, the whole team would be out in the next 40 runs. On top of that, it kept raining throughout my tenure. Club cricket in England isn’t as good as it used to be during the times of Kapil Dev and Sir Viv Richards; County, however, is a different ball game. It is more like Ranji Trophy,” said the batsman.

“If I have a good season, the other factors will take its course. I don’t want to be too vocal about it currently but a national call-up is definitely there at the back of my mind. I want to emerge as one of the top-scorers in Ranji Trophy,” he claimed.