Unmukt Chand's Swashbuckling Half-Century Powers LAKR to Victory

Unmukt Chand, the former captain of India's U19 World Cup-winning team, has faced a rollercoaster of a career since his triumph. Despite switching to US citizenship, Chand was surprisingly omitted from the USA squad that stunned the world by reaching the Super 8 of the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Undeterred, the 31-year-old Chand is determined to prove his worth. He kicked off the second season of Major League Cricket (MLC), USA's franchise T20 league, with a scintillating half-century for the Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR).

Ironically, LAKR is owned by the Knight Riders group, the same franchise that marked the beginning of Chand's downfall when he was famously clean bowled by Kolkata Knight Riders pacer Brett Lee in the opening ball of IPL 2013.

After finishing at the bottom of the table in the inaugural season of MLC, LAKR needed a strong start to MLC 2024. Chand, batting at number 3, took charge in the opening match against Texas Super Kings after openers Jason Roy and Sunil Narine were dismissed cheaply.

Chand's blistering knock of 68 off 45 balls, including six fours and three sixes, was the cornerstone of LAKR's respectable total of 162/7. No other batter in the LAKR lineup crossed 30, highlighting Chand's crucial contribution.

Despite the presence of star names like David Miller and Andre Russell, Texas Super Kings fell short by 12 runs. USA pacer Ali Khan played a pivotal role, dismantling the TSK middle order with three wickets in quick succession.

Chand's performance is a testament to his resilience and determination. Despite setbacks, he remains a force to be reckoned with. LAKR will look to build on their strong start when they face San Francisco Unicorns on July 8.

Tags: #UnmuktChand, #MLC, #LosAngelesKnightRiders, #TexasSuperKings, #Cricket