Indian cricketer and the former U-19 world cup winning team captain Unmukt Chand has become the first Indian man to play in Australia’s version of IPL, the Big Bash League.
Indian cricketer Unmukt Chand made his debut for Melbourne Renegades against Hobart Hurricanes, becoming the first Indian male to play in BBL.
Right-hand batter Chand is playing under Australia’s One-day team skipper Aaron Finch. Renegades lost the match by six runs. Chand scored six runs off 8 balls before getting caught by Caleb Jewel at deep mid-wicket. Chand scored 29 off 22 balls in his second outing against Sydney Thunder.
The 28-year-old former India-A skipper had left India last year and moved to the US. He never played for the Indian senior team despite a domestic career spanning more than a decade, including 67 first-class matches.
He was part of three IPL teams – Delhi Daredevils, Mumbai Indians, and Rajasthan Royals. Chand made a name for himself as a teenager in the 2012 ICC U-19 World Cup in Australia, winning the player of the match in the final. He had scored an unbeaten 111 against Australia.
Many Indian female crickets have played in the BBL. Indian T20 captain Harmanpreet Kaur and her teammate Jemimah Rodrigues were signed by Melbourne Renegades last year. Sydney Sixers signed Shafali Verma along with bowler Radha Yadav. Sydney Thunder signed opener Smriti Mandhana and all-rounder Deepti Sharma. Wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh was signed by Hobart Hurricanes, while Brisbane Heat picked bowler Poonam Yadav.
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