Published: Jun 22, 2013, 02:04 PM (IST)
Edited: Jun 22, 2013, 02:04 PM (IST)
Post IPL 2013 season, Unmukt Chand has been working more on the ‘mental aspect’ of game © IANS
New Delhi: Jun 22, 2013
India Under-19 World Cup winning-captain Unmukt Chand wasn’t able to play big knocks in the just concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) season.
Chand said, “Ups and downs are part of cricket. It happens. I was in great form heading into the IPL with two hundreds in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, but somehow things didn’t go well in the IPL. I missed out early, but made a good comeback with a couple of good knocks. I was batting well, but couldn’t get that one big knock under my belt.”
Asked whether it is time for him to play aggressive cricket, Chand replied, “I don’t think it has got to do with rash or aggressive shots. Facing the first ball of the IPL was a special experience. I was excited, but Brett Lee bowled a brilliant opening delivery. A batsman is not set on the first ball of the innings, and that ball was a great one.”
Post IPL 2013 season, Chand has been working more on the ‘mental aspect’ of game.
“I figured out what could be improved and have been working on that. After the IPL, I have not made any major changes to my game, just some minor adjustments to fine tune batting. I have been playing a lot of cricket and practicing hard. More than the technical thing, I’m working on the mental aspect of the game. There was no major concern, just some fine tuning to be ready for the road ahead,” Chand was quoted as saying by Indian Express.
Chand has been working hard, hoping to seal a berth in the India A side for the tour of South Africa.
“I’m working very hard for that. Playing a lot of cricket and staying in shape for the matches ahead. I expect a call and am very focussed for the same.”
The Delhi lad made Ranji Trophy debut three years ago, however, he is yet to play a big role in the domestic season.
“I was batting well during the Ranji Trophy, but could manage only one hundred this season. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, I was not able to find form early but scored a good hundred in the final. Things went well in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where I scored two hundreds, and got a good hit in the middle ahead of the IPL. I have now played enough domestic cricket to get the feel of it. It is really important to score in the Ranji Trophy, and it is not that I can’t or I’m missing something. I’m sure success in Ranji will come to me.”
Speaking about the rumours that police had visited his house in relation to IPL 2013 spot-fixing controversy, Chand said, “This is absolutely false information. Nothing of that sorts happened. I was very much at home, and was studying for my exams. I don’t know from where it all cropped up, but nothing like that actually happened. The newspaper, which carried the story, apologised the next day.”
“It was a very bad news for cricket and cricket lovers to see alleged involvement of cricketers. It definitely hurts the spirit of cricket and is something I always distance myself from. I am absolutely against any practice affecting the spirit in which the game is played. But I firmly believe that we can’t generalise the issue,” he concluded.
