Latest news with #UnmuktChand
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Unmukt Chand rejuvenates his cricket career with the L.A. Knight Riders
After captaining India to an Under-19 World Cup title in 2012 — with arguably the finest performance of his life — Unmukt Chand struggled to even watch his country play on TV. After donning the royal blue and molten orange jersey as part of India A — the second rung of the national team ladder — Chand's performance dipped and his name eventually disappeared from the game-day roster for his home state team in Delhi Advertisement After donning the royal blue and molten orange jersey as part of India's A — or second-best — national team, Chand struggled and eventually fell off the game-day roster for his home state team in Delhi. After years gunning for India's main team, Chand found himself circling the fringes. His early stardom never quite translated into a stable senior career as opportunities dried up in a system overflowing with talent. By 2021, the dream was still alive, but the runway had faded and Chand decided to retire from all forms of Indian cricket. 'To let go of that feeling was something which took me time, and obviously I had to do my own catharsis. I had self-identity doubts,' Chand said. Unmukt Chand revived his cricket career when he moved to the United States and eventually joined Major League Cricket's L.A. Knight Riders. (Andrew Hancock/For The Times) With the courage to start over, he unloaded his bags on American soil, where the pitch was still being laid. What the U.S. lacked in tradition, it made up for in potential, Chand said — seeing a future in a place that wasn't bound by his past. Advertisement 'We've all grown up watching American sports and the way they do sports activities, and everything around it is something very exciting,' Chand said, 'and something very different from a cricketing point of view.' Chand and his wife, Simran Khosla, settled on relocating to Dallas. It was a leap made solely for cricket — one that left Khosla without work, stability or anything resembling certainty. In 2019, American Cricket Enterprises, the strategic partner of USA Cricket, pledged a $1-billion investment to jumpstart a professional T20 league in the country. T20 is a condensed, fast-paced format of the game. Read more: L.A. names coveted five provisional sports it wants to add for 2028 Olympics Advertisement That vision materialized in 2023 with the debut of Major League Cricket, featuring six privately owned franchises each backed by global investors, including some of cricket's most iconic brands. ESPNcricinfo reported that the league will expand to eight teams in 2027, with sights set on 10 by 2031. The goal? Hook American to a flashier style of cricket that emphasizes quick scoring, frequent momentum swings and just enough chaos to attract fans who couldn't tell a wicket from a walk-off. 'MLC is exciting — that's why it is attracting so many players — top players from around the world,' Chand said. 'The way they have done this competition is also very nice, the way teams are being made, the way the domestic and international representation is there.' While MLC's launch was delayed to 2022 due to COVID-19, ACE had already been courting Chand as the kind of marquee talent who could lend legitimacy and hype to the U.S.'s cricketing scene. L.A. Knight Riders batsman Unmukt Chand collects the ball during a Major League Cricket match against the Mumbai Indians New York on July 3 at Central Broward Regional Park in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) He made his American debut in August 2021 with the Silicon Valley Strikers in Minor League Cricket, a developmental league aimed at growing the sport across the U.S. Advertisement 'We were his biggest fans,' said Natwar Agarwal, owner of the Strikers. 'We always heard about him, and it was like a dream come true — Unmukt Chand is here, and there's a possibility that he can play for our team.' You likely wouldn't have guessed that he'd just crossed nearly 8,000 miles or buried a dream that shaped his boyhood. Chand paced the league in runs per game, piling up 612 runs during 16 innings as he piloted his team to the inaugural Minor League Cricket title. 'Players like him, … showed that a good quality of cricket can happen in the U.S.,' Agarwal said. 'Still today, I get calls from players in India, Pakistan — they want to explore the opportunity where they can come here and play.' Read more: U.S. cricket team hopes to build on surprise run at T20 World Cup Advertisement Chand's championship summer opened doors around the world — including Australia and Bangladesh — but none felt quite like home until 2023, when he signed with Major League Cricket's Los Angeles Knight Riders, the American arm of one of cricket's most storied franchises. The organization, owned by Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan, brought a built-in international fan base and marketing muscle rarely seen in American cricket. For Chand, it was the break he'd been denied back home: a team that backed him, and a league that let him prove he still belonged at the top. 'Playing for a franchise like Knight Riders is something very special, and being in L.A. makes it big,' Chand said. 'L.A. holds a very special place — it's been a sporting capital with obviously the Lakers, and us now being a part of the same sporting ecosystem.' Advertisement He joined the Knight Riders as a top-order batsman in a locker room stocked with international firepower and helmed by Dwayne Bravo, a West Indies legend in the T20 format. Chand made good on it. Unmukt Chand, of the L.A. Knight Riders, is working to earn a spot on the U.S. national cricket team. (Andrew Hancock/For The Times) 'He's been doing really well for us over the years — he was a really great addition to our Knight Riders team,' said Ali Khan, Chand's teammate and a member of the U.S. national team. 'Always helpful and engaged in the field, and off the field as well, he's always there and helping the team.' The Knight Riders languished at the bottom of the table in 2025, where they had the past two seasons. But Chand's 33.6 run average this year offered a rare glint in an otherwise dull stretch. Advertisement He produced an unbeaten 86 runs off 58 balls to lift his team to one of its two victories this season, prompting Bravo to publicly endorse his star batsman for the U.S. national team. 'This guy deserves to be involved in USA cricket team! Cricket is bigger than politics, let's do right for these players. Well done!' Bravo wrote on an Instagram story. And yet, for Chand, a U.S. call-up remains elusive. He was left out of the 2024 T20 World Cup roster and passed over for multiple tours abroad. While Chand's domestic performances have been solid, selectors have said he has yet to shift the selection calculus in a system that might prioritize younger prospects. Advertisement Read more: LA28 announces Dodger Stadium among new 2028 Olympic venues, lineup nearly complete 'With the USA World Cup not happening for him, it was a little disappointing for us. Not little — very, because this is what we moved here for,' Khosla said. 'But he was at it even when things were not working for him — focusing on the process, going back to the basics, working hard, practicing more.' Though the lack of selection still stings, it's not unfamiliar for Chand. Adversity gave him a mindset he still leans on. The U.S. snubs haven't shaken him — his focus, he says, remains to 'perform wherever I can, make the best use of my opportunities and hopefully those things will happen sooner than later.' Advertisement Khosla, who met Chand during what she called his 'most struggling phase,' said his drive never faded — even when things felt bleak. What kept him going? His love for the game. 'Cricket is his religion,' Khosla said. 'Cricket is something I would call his first wife. … If you take out his blood, his blood would be cricket.' Chand, 32, speaks ambitiously about the future of American cricket — and his desire to be at the center of its development. The signs are there, he said: the growth of Major League Cricket, the influx of youth academies, the construction of stadiums and the promise of the sport being featured during the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Advertisement He came to the U.S. chasing a reimagined version of a childhood dream. He didn't need to rediscover the game — just needed a new place to keep feeding the fire. His journey is chronicled in a documentary that was recently selected for screening by the Dallas International Film Festival. 'U.S. is my new home, and I'm going to be here only,' Chand said. 'Playing for USA, playing MLC, playing other franchises around the world is the way to go forward. And cricket has definitely been on the rise. … I look forward to the next few years in USA. It's going to be exciting.' Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Unmukt Chand rejuvenates his cricket career with the L.A. Knight Riders
After captaining India to an Under-19 World Cup title in 2012 — with arguably the finest performance of his life — Unmukt Chand struggled to even watch his country play on TV. After donning the royal blue and molten orange jersey as part of India A — the second rung of the national team ladder — Chand's performance dipped and his name eventually disappeared from the game-day roster for his home state team in Delhi After donning the royal blue and molten orange jersey as part of India's A — or second-best — national team, Chand struggled and eventually fell off the game-day roster for his home state team in Delhi. After years gunning for India's main team, Chand found himself circling the fringes. His early stardom never quite translated into a stable senior career as opportunities dried up in a system overflowing with talent. By 2021, the dream was still alive, but the runway had faded and Chand decided to retire from all forms of Indian cricket. 'To let go of that feeling was something which took me time, and obviously I had to do my own catharsis. I had self-identity doubts,' Chand said. With the courage to start over, he unloaded his bags on American soil, where the pitch was still being laid. What the U.S. lacked in tradition, it made up for in potential, Chand said — seeing a future in a place that wasn't bound by his past. 'We've all grown up watching American sports and the way they do sports activities, and everything around it is something very exciting,' Chand said, 'and something very different from a cricketing point of view.' Chand and his wife, Simran Khosla, settled on relocating to Dallas. It was a leap made solely for cricket — one that left Khosla without work, stability or anything resembling certainty. In 2019, American Cricket Enterprises, the strategic partner of USA Cricket, pledged a $1-billion investment to jumpstart a professional T20 league in the country. T20 is a condensed, fast-paced format of the game. That vision materialized in 2023 with the debut of Major League Cricket, featuring six privately owned franchises each backed by global investors, including some of cricket's most iconic brands. ESPNcricinfo reported that the league will expand to eight teams in 2027, with sights set on 10 by 2031. The goal? Hook American to a flashier style of cricket that emphasizes quick scoring, frequent momentum swings and just enough chaos to attract fans who couldn't tell a wicket from a walk-off. 'MLC is exciting — that's why it is attracting so many players — top players from around the world,' Chand said. 'The way they have done this competition is also very nice, the way teams are being made, the way the domestic and international representation is there.' While MLC's launch was delayed to 2022 due to COVID-19, ACE had already been courting Chand as the kind of marquee talent who could lend legitimacy and hype to the U.S.'s cricketing scene. He made his American debut in August 2021 with the Silicon Valley Strikers in Minor League Cricket, a developmental league aimed at growing the sport across the U.S. 'We were his biggest fans,' said Natwar Agarwal, owner of the Strikers. 'We always heard about him, and it was like a dream come true — Unmukt Chand is here, and there's a possibility that he can play for our team.' You likely wouldn't have guessed that he'd just crossed nearly 8,000 miles or buried a dream that shaped his boyhood. Chand paced the league in runs per game, piling up 612 runs during 16 innings as he piloted his team to the inaugural Minor League Cricket title. 'Players like him, … showed that a good quality of cricket can happen in the U.S.,' Agarwal said. 'Still today, I get calls from players in India, Pakistan — they want to explore the opportunity where they can come here and play.' Chand's championship summer opened doors around the world — including Australia and Bangladesh — but none felt quite like home until 2023, when he signed with Major League Cricket's Los Angeles Knight Riders, the American arm of one of cricket's most storied franchises. The organization, owned by Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan, brought a built-in international fan base and marketing muscle rarely seen in American cricket. For Chand, it was the break he'd been denied back home: a team that backed him, and a league that let him prove he still belonged at the top. 'Playing for a franchise like Knight Riders is something very special, and being in L.A. makes it big,' Chand said. 'L.A. holds a very special place — it's been a sporting capital with obviously the Lakers, and us now being a part of the same sporting ecosystem.' He joined the Knight Riders as a top-order batsman in a locker room stocked with international firepower and helmed by Dwayne Bravo, a West Indies legend in the T20 format. Chand made good on it. 'He's been doing really well for us over the years — he was a really great addition to our Knight Riders team,' said Ali Khan, Chand's teammate and a member of the U.S. national team. 'Always helpful and engaged in the field, and off the field as well, he's always there and helping the team.' The Knight Riders languished at the bottom of the table in 2025, where they had the past two seasons. But Chand's 33.6 run average this year offered a rare glint in an otherwise dull stretch. He produced an unbeaten 86 runs off 58 balls to lift his team to one of its two victories this season, prompting Bravo to publicly endorse his star batsman for the U.S. national team. 'This guy deserves to be involved in USA cricket team! Cricket is bigger than politics, let's do right for these players. Well done!' Bravo wrote on an Instagram story. And yet, for Chand, a U.S. call-up remains elusive. He was left out of the 2024 T20 World Cup roster and passed over for multiple tours abroad. While Chand's domestic performances have been solid, selectors have said he has yet to shift the selection calculus in a system that might prioritize younger prospects. 'With the USA World Cup not happening for him, it was a little disappointing for us. Not little — very, because this is what we moved here for,' Khosla said. 'But he was at it even when things were not working for him — focusing on the process, going back to the basics, working hard, practicing more.' Though the lack of selection still stings, it's not unfamiliar for Chand. Adversity gave him a mindset he still leans on. The U.S. snubs haven't shaken him — his focus, he says, remains to 'perform wherever I can, make the best use of my opportunities and hopefully those things will happen sooner than later.' Khosla, who met Chand during what she called his 'most struggling phase,' said his drive never faded — even when things felt bleak. What kept him going? His love for the game. 'Cricket is his religion,' Khosla said. 'Cricket is something I would call his first wife. … If you take out his blood, his blood would be cricket.' Chand, 32, speaks ambitiously about the future of American cricket — and his desire to be at the center of its development. The signs are there, he said: the growth of Major League Cricket, the influx of youth academies, the construction of stadiums and the promise of the sport being featured during the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. He came to the U.S. chasing a reimagined version of a childhood dream. He didn't need to rediscover the game — just needed a new place to keep feeding the fire. His journey is chronicled in a documentary that was recently selected for screening by the Dallas International Film Festival. 'U.S. is my new home, and I'm going to be here only,' Chand said. 'Playing for USA, playing MLC, playing other franchises around the world is the way to go forward. And cricket has definitely been on the rise. … I look forward to the next few years in USA. It's going to be exciting.'
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
MLC 2025, LAKR vs MINY Dream11 Predictions: Fantasy tips, playing XI – Los Angeles Knight Riders vs MI New York match
MLC 2025, LAKR vs MINY Dream11 Predictions and more. Credit: X|@LA_KnightRiders & @MINYCricket MLC 2025, LAKR vs MINY Dream11 Predictions: Match 24 of Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 sees the Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR) face MI New York (MINY) in Lauderhill, Florida. With both teams struggling this season, the match is a do-or-die battle to stay in the playoff race. The Knight Riders sit near the bottom of the table but have match-winners in their ranks. MI New York, despite a strong lineup, has battled inconsistency and needs a turnaround to keep their campaign alive. MLC 2025: Los Angeles Knight Riders vs MI New York details Match: Los Angeles Knight Riders vs MI New York Los Angeles Knight Riders vs MI New York Event: Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 Date: Friday, July 4, 2025 Friday, July 4, 2025 Time: 4:30 AM IST 4:30 AM IST Venue: Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground, Lauderhill, Florida Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground, Lauderhill, Florida LAKR vs MINY streaming platforms: Star Sports Network, JioHotstar app and website Los Angeles Knight Riders Predicted XI for today's match, MLC 2025 Unmukt Chand (wk), Andre Fletcher, Sherfane Rutherford, Saif Badar, Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Jason Holder (C), Shadley van Schalkwyk, Tanveer Sangha, Ali Khan MI New York Predicted XI for today's test match, MLC 2025 Quinton de Kock (wk), Monank Patel, Nicholas Pooran (C), Tajinder Singh, Michael Bracewell, Kieron Pollard, George Linde, Sunny Patel, Trent Boult, Ehsan Adil, Rushil Ugarkar LAKR vs MINY Dream11 Prediction for MLC 2025 Wicketkeeper: Unmukt Chand, Quinton de Kock Unmukt Chand, Quinton de Kock Batters: Andre Fletcher, Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard, Monank Patel Andre Fletcher, Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard, Monank Patel All-Rounders: Andre Russell, Jason Holder, Michael Bracewell Andre Russell, Jason Holder, Michael Bracewell Bowlers: Shadley van Schalkwyk, Trent Boult MLC 2025: Central Broward Regional Park Stadium, Florida, Weather reports Lauderhill is set to offer ideal conditions for this crucial clash between two struggling yet talented franchises. The weather forecast predicts perfect evening conditions with temperatures ranging from 29 to 32°C. A light breeze from the southwest, blowing at 8–12 kmph, is expected to keep things pleasant. Humidity levels will stay between 55% and 60%, ensuring a comfortable playing environment. Most notably, there is a 0% chance of rain, guaranteeing a full match without any weather-related interruptions . Los Angeles Knight Riders vs MI New York: Head-to-head Matches played: 02 02 Los Angeles Knight Riders won: 00 00 MI New York won: 02 02 No result: 01 MLC 2025: LAKR Team Squad Unmukt Chand(w), Andre Fletcher, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Saif Badar, Rovman Powell, Jason Holder(c), Matthew Tromp, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Ali Khan, Tanveer Sangha, Spencer Johnson, Sunil Narine, Karthik Gattepalli, Dominic Drakes, Adithya Ganesh, Corne Dry, Alex Hales, Nitish Kumar MLC 2025: MINY Team Squad Quinton de Kock(w), Nicholas Pooran(c), Monank Patel, Tajinder Dhillon, Kieron Pollard, Michael Bracewell, George Linde, Sunny Patel, Trent Boult, Rushil Ugarkar, Ehsan Adil, Naveen-ul-Haq, Sharad Lumba, Delano Potgieter, Nosthush Kenjige, Agni Chopra, Heath Richards, Tristan Luus, Kunwarjeet Singh Stay ahead of the game with the latest updates, match highlights, and insider stories from IPL, WTC, cricket, WWE, and more! Click here. First Published: Jul 03, 2025, 14:37 IST Karen Noronha is a versatile journalist with a passion for sports and K-pop. With over 7 years of experience at publications like IBTimes UK, DNA, and OTTPlay/DesiMartini, she seamlessly transitions between covering global athletic events and the dynamic world of K-pop. Read More 3/7/2025 15:9:51
Time of India
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
USA Cricket board faces ICC pressure amid looming suspension threat
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is the global governing body of cricket (Photo Credit: Reuters) BIRMINGHAM: The International Cricket Council (ICC) is preparing to take decisive action against USA Cricket (USAC) as the end of its 12-month governance notice period approaches next month. Sources familiar with the matter say the ICC is considering suspending the national governing body unless significant leadership changes occur before the ICC's Annual Conference in July. USAC was formally placed under notice in July 2024, when the ICC established a normalisation committee to oversee compliance and reforms. At the time, the ICC cited the board's lack of a 'fit for purpose' governance and administrative structure. Since then, little progress has been made, according to individuals with knowledge of recent discussions. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! An ICC delegation visited Los Angeles earlier this month for meetings with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC). Those discussions, which included members of the normalisation committee and senior USAC representatives, are understood to have reinforced concerns about ongoing dysfunction and internal disputes within USAC. One official with direct involvement described the situation as 'unsustainable,' noting that despite repeated warnings and external oversight, 'very little has changed.' 'The ICC's position is clear: effective governance is non-negotiable, especially ahead of cricket's return to the Olympics at LA 2028,' the official said. Poll How confident are you in the current USAC leadership? Very confident Somewhat confident Not confident at all During the visit, ICC representatives reportedly urged members of the current board, led by Chair Venu Pisike, to step down voluntarily. While some directors are said to be open to resigning, others remain resistant. A board member told that no formal decisions have been made and that the group is awaiting documentation from the ICC before determining next steps. ICC officials pushed back on that characterisation, stating the Los Angeles discussions were informal and not subject to official minutes. 'This is not a bureaucratic technicality,' said one person close to the talks. 'This is about whether the US cricket community is governed competently and transparently.' MLC 2025: Unmukt Chand's road to redemption in America A small number of directors remain defiant, according to sources. However, several resignations are expected in the coming weeks in an effort to preempt formal sanctions. Suspension by the ICC would effectively isolate USAC from global cricket structures, impacting its ability to receive funding, host international matches, or participate in development programs. The ICC has not made a public statement on the matter, but with the July deadline approaching, a resolution—voluntary or otherwise—appears imminent. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Time of India
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
MLC 2025: Unmukt Chand is Los Angeles Knight Riders' lone bright spot, but will USA Cricket notice?
Unmukt Chand (Pic credit: LAKR) "Cricket is a universal game and even though the means might change, the end goal is still the same - to play cricket at the highest level," Chand had written in his retirement post in 2021. Unmukt Chand has endured one too many swings of misfortune in his cricketing sojourn. From being India's Under-19 World Cup-winning captain in 2012 to retiring from Indian cricket at the age of 28, the right-handed batter has finally found his feet in his home away from home. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! To chase the universal game, the Delhi boy relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2021, with a dream to play cricket for the US national team. It's been four years, and he is yet to get that maiden call from USA Cricket. "Moving to the USA was something like a second chance for me. My one and only goal when I left for the USA was to play for the national team," he had told before the third edition of the 2025 Major League Cricket (MLC). MLC 2025: Unmukt Chand's road to redemption in America After doing well in the Minor League Cricket, a national T20 competition in the United States, he was hoping to get picked for the 2024 T20 World Cup, held in the US and the Caribbean, but he was not selected. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ductless Air Conditioners Are Selling Like Crazy [See Why] Keep Cool Click Here Undo "The World Cup was something which was very important. And that's how I sort of timed my retirement from India also," he had said. Unmukt's numbers in the first two editions of the MLC, where he plays for Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR), were not good enough. In the first season, he managed only 68 runs in four outings, and in the following season, he scored 158 runs in six matches. Poll Do you think Unmukt Chand will eventually get selected for the US national cricket team? Yes, definitely No, unlikely However, in the 2025 MLC, Unmukt has found his rhythm. He is LAKR's sole bright spot as the team is currently languishing at the bottom of the points table. With 243 runs in seven matches, Unmukt is currently placed sixth in the list of top run-getters. Will this be enough to get him into the US side? The 32-year-old definitely knows what he needs to do. "Whenever I have not got selected, performance was the only way you come back in. So I can only think along those lines," he said. "You know, as a cricketer, my lines are always very straight: I want to keep working hard, and keep improving my skills, and keep making sure that whenever I get the opportunity I go there and perform. "My only way to get back is to let my bat keep talking," he would say. LAKR have three games left this season and they are mathematically out of the playoffs race. But for Unmukt, these matches will be a chance to finish the season on a high in his quest for redemption. From being touted as a prodigious talent to trying to find his feet in a different country, it has been chaotic for Unmukt, but this is his only way to live his dream. "I have grown up with this mindset and mentality that I just want to keep getting better every day. The whole fight is with me. I want to be a better version of myself. That is something which has been a very strong fundamental thing inside my head," he said. LA Knight Riders: All You Need to Know | MLC 2025 Squad, Stars & Fixtures "I feel that the journey is still ongoing. I still have a number of years left with me. I will keep trying my best. I will keep doing my best. You never know, man, where life takes you," he added. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
