Unmukt Chand signs up with Melbourne Renegades, becomes first Indian BBL player

Melbourne Renegades on Thursday announced the signing of Unmukt Chand for the 2021-22 season of the Big Bash League. The 28-year-old batter becomes the first Indian player to feature in the Australian T20 extravaganza.

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Unmukt retired from cricket earlier this year to play league cricket in the U.S. The captain of the national team that won the U-19 World Cup in 2012, Unmukt has played domestic cricket for Delhi and Uttarakhand.

Unmukt has played 67 first-class matches, 120 List A matches, and 77 T20 matches in his career. His last first-class match was in January, 2020, when he turned out for Uttarakhand against Haryana in Dehradun.

Unmukt has also played the Indian Premier League, representing Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians.

Elated at the opportunity to play the BBL, Unmukt said, “It’s great to be a part of the Melbourne Renegades family. Really looking forward to come to Melbourne. I’ve always been following the Big Bash League; it’s a great opportunity for me to play some good cricket.”

He added- “I know for a fact that there are lots of Indians in Melbourne and I hope the crowds turn up for the games as well.”