While Delhi lost their opening Super League game of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy to Gujarat, Unmukt Chand’s performance with the bat stood out. However, despite his century Delhi’s score wasn’t enough to test Gujarat, who scaled the target with relative ease.
The opener, who has been in good form in the ongoing season, scored a 58-ball 103 (5x6, 4x8) as he anchored the team to a respectable score against the defending champions at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy BKC, Mumbai. With this third ton in T20 cricket, he joined Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma in doing so.
Reflecting on the game and his knock, Chand said, “It is always good to score a century, especially in T20 but sadly we lost the game. We didn’t have enough runs on the board I feel. I think we lost a couple of wickets early on which got us off to a slow start. We wanted to capitalize later on, but that’s how the game is.
“They played really well. Parthiv (Patel) and (Priyank) Panchal started off well and got the momentum going. Had we got a couple of wickets it would have made a difference, but they took the game away from us from the very first over,” he added.
Speaking about the total that they were defending, he observed, “Credit to them that they batted really well; and we didn’t bowl in the right areas. We bowled quite far off and gave them room to play. On wickets like those in Mumbai, where the bounce is pretty much (there), you don’t want to give the batsmen room because that makes it easier for them to score runs. These are some things we need to sort out so that tomorrow (Saturday) we comeback stronger.”
Although his century went in vain, the batsman had looked in good touch as he paced and shaped Delhi’s innings. Asked how he had prepared for RP Singh and the Gujarat attack that have been presenting problems for oppositions apart from beating Delhi in the finals, Chand said, “We know how they bowl. I have played against them before. I wanted to bat long and the whole plan was that one batsman (from the top order) should stay till the 15th over. The wicket was so good that you got results if you batted well. I was getting runs. I felt l I was in the zone. I was in a much more balanced state and that is what made me go all the way.”
Chand has played some vital knocks for Delhi in the 2015-16 season and while he looks to play for India like any other cricketer, he is focussed on winning matches for Delhi. “Of course you want to play for the country, but you don’t know how and when things happen. I keep doing what I do as a player and whenever I get the opportunity, I will make the most of it. I should feel that I belong there and that is what is more important.”
Speaking about what has helped him play in sublime fashion, he said, “I practice like everyone does but I have a mental trainer who has been with me for last five-six months. We have been working on the mental aspect of my game and I am inclined towards spirituality as well. I have got a spiritual Guru who keeps guiding me.”
Besides scoring consistently for his team, Chand has also been keeping wickets for Delhi in the shorter formats in the ongoing season.
Speaking about the added responsibility, he explained, “Last year, I was keeping wickets in the T20s. This year the captain and the coach wanted me to keep wickets and I did so in the one-dayers as well, barring the knockout games.
“Rishabh (Pant) was back for the knockouts. He is playing for the India U-19. We tried a couple of options and it wasn’t working out. We wanted to play an extra batsman and because I wasn’t bowling regularly for Delhi, it made sense to do keep wickes.”
Wicketkeeping also adds an extra dimension to Chand’s cricket. “I have kept well in the past but of course it does help, especially in shorter formats, you want to be as proactive as you can. Keeping makes a lot of difference and I am really enjoying it,” he mentioned.
Chand has regularly featured in the India ‘A’ team too. Asked about how he sees the way forward, he said, “It has been two-three years that I have been part of the India ‘A’ team regularly. It is good to score runs. This is what we play for. This is what we practice day in and day out.
You want to get better every day and that’s the sole motive. Whenever I go in there I want to do well and get results for the team and help win more matches.”
