Unmukt Chand feels he has become a better player after stint in England

Delhi opener and former India Under-19 captain Unmukt Chand is geared up for the forthcoming season which could be the most important of his career. After his summer stint in England where he played for Colne Club in the Lancashire League, Chand believes that he made progress in terms of his understanding of the game and enjoying his cricket.

However, for the right-hander, the quality of opposition did not really challenge him, but there was much to learn from playing in English conditions, universally known to add depth to a player after mastering the art of playing in the varying conditions.

“Playing in small towns where people come and fill up those lovely little grounds was a fascinating experience. Cricket is in the air in England. You feel it. The grounds, the pitches, the players all contribute to bring the best out of you,” said Chand.

“I was playing for a club which was not in the top bracket but I enjoyed the responsibility. They value performances, and it served my purpose of gaining the experience of playing in different conditions,” he added.

A stint that could boost his career

The opener said he utilized the trip to train for the upcoming matches here, more so because of the added pressure of the forthcoming season. He has had a roller coaster ride in his career so far and while his name has been a recognized one since the U19 days, he hasn’t been able to back it with his performances lately.

The stint would be important not only for the domestic season but also because he hasn’t managed to take off in his IPL career. With the grand auction underway next year, piling up runs in the domestic season would help him in the long term. And his brief experience of countering the multiple conditions in England could possibly be the reason for it, eventually.

“Due to rains the pitches and the grounds would be affected. But the players would still train, and that was a welcome experience. I did lot of training and I am confident of my fitness for the season,” he said.

“You set goals at the beginning of the season, and look to make the best of the lessons learnt from the previous year. What I liked about England was how the players enjoyed their cricket. It helps you stay focussed. I have come back a lot matured, and I understand my role better,” he said, as reported by The Hindu.