Consistently scoring big in big matches isn't an easy habit to inculcate. But India under-19 captain Unmukt Chand is fast proving be the one the team looks up to at big moments. Soon after cracking a century in the semifinal against Sri Lanka, the Delhi boy's calculated 121 in the under-19 Asia Cup final against Pakistan almost pulled off the match. The job, though, was only half-finished as the game ended in a thrilling tie on Sunday in Kuala Lumpur.
Chasing Pakistan's 282/9, Unmukt shared a 175-run stand with Baba Aparajith (90) for the second wicket to keep India in the hunt. After Aparajith, who dominated the partnership, was dismissed, Unmukt took over and took India closer to the target before falling off the fourth ball of the final over with three wickets and five runs remaining. While it seemed the pair's hard work would be undone, left-arm medium-pacer Rush Kalaria, who had earlier claimed 5/37, slammed a boundary off the next ball to equal scores. But he could only chip the last ball to mid-off to be caught as both teams left with something to celebrate.
Unmukt, thus, maintained his record of not losing in any event he has captained the team in. India had earlier won two quadrangular events in India and Australia under his captaincy.
Unmukt had hit a 94 and a century in the semifinal and the final respectively in the last event the colts played, the quadrangular in Australia in April this year, which shows how he responds to big challenges. A regular opener for his state team Delhi, he came down at three in Australia and then curbed his natural attacking instincts in Kuala Lumpur to bat through the innings because the middle-order was looking shaky. For those who have followed him, a strike rate in the late 70s and early 80s throughout a limited-overs tournament is hard to believe.
Often critcised for his flashy play during the last first class season — in which he failed to convert any of his starts into hundreds — Unmukt has reveled as captain of the junior national team. "I need to play a different role in this team. Being the seniormost player, I had to bat responsibly and let the middle-order play around me. That's why I modified my game," Unmukt told TOI from Kuala Lumpur after the final while adding that the team had taken the tied final in its strides. "It happens. We'd have loved to win because we lost to Pakistan by just one run in the league stage. But it's okay."
With the Under-19 World Cup a little more than a month away, the preparations have lived up to the expectations. "We have matured as a team by being together. We have learnt to adapt to different conditions. All of us have contributed in the wins. All eyes are on the World Cup now. Even in this tournament, Vijay Zol scored a superb century, allrounder Baba (Aparajith) has consistently done well and the bowlers have been great. Kalaria was superb today and the left-arm spin of Vikas Mishra has been amazing," said Unmukt who is now enjoying the leadership role.
"I am loving every bit of it. The team is really supportive. They have been pretty obedient," he said tongue-in-cheek.
Brief scores: Pakistan U-19 282/9 (Sami Aslam 134, R Kalaria 5/37) vs India U-19 282/8 (U Chand 121, B Aparajith 90; Md Nawaz 3/45)
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