Unmukt Chand's MLC 2025 Form: Is a USA Cricket Call-Up Finally on the Horizon?

Unmukt Chand, the former India Under-19 World Cup-winning captain, continues his pursuit of cricketing redemption in the United States. After an early retirement from Indian cricket, Chand relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2021 with aspirations of representing the USA on the international stage.

Despite his efforts in Minor League Cricket, a national T20 competition, a call-up to the USA national team has remained elusive. Speaking before the 2025 Major League Cricket (MLC), Chand expressed that moving to the USA represented a "second chance" with the primary goal of playing for the national team.

While he aimed to secure a spot in the 2024 T20 World Cup squad, which was co-hosted by the US and the Caribbean, he was ultimately not selected.

Chand's previous MLC seasons with the Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR) yielded modest results. However, the MLC 2025 season has witnessed a resurgence in his form. He has emerged as the lone bright spot for LAKR, who are currently at the bottom of the league standings.

With 243 runs in seven matches, Unmukt is currently sixth in the list of top run-scorers. Whether this performance will be enough to earn him a place in the US squad remains to be seen. Chand remains focused on his performance.

"Whenever I have not got selected, performance was the only way you come back in. So I can only think along those lines," he stated, emphasizing the importance of consistent performance. "My only way to get back is to let my bat keep talking," he added.

With LAKR having three matches remaining this season, Chand aims to capitalize on these opportunities to conclude the season positively. His journey has been filled with ups and downs, from being regarded as a promising talent to seeking stability in a new country.

"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," he affirmed.

"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 concluded, remaining optimistic about the future.