Two seasons ago, when Unmukt Chand was drafted in the Delhi side, a pedigree boasting of the likes of Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, and an upcoming Virat Kohli, was well established.
Unmukt was just 17, but was seen as someone with a treasure of talent. Not exactly an heir apparent to Delhi's stars but one who could carve out his own space and keep up the tradition of producing quality batsmen from the capital.
Unmukt had a problem though. He could never curb flashy strokes. His penchant for shots often left him short of bigger achievements; his talent went abegging for its appropriate due. The debut first-class season in 2010-11, however, heralded a turn-around.
Though he compiled only 304 runs in six Ranji Trophy innings, it included a 151-run knock against Railways at the Roshanara ground. A typically attacking innings with the flamboyant Shikhar Dhawan as his opening partner. Unmukt's impulsive strokeplay, however, got the better of him in the second innings. Delhi lost the match, but he learnt an invaluable lesson- to value his wicket.
"I learnt that day that I must finish a contest and not leave it to someone. The knock still remains very special to me. I got a lot of confidence from it. I tend to go for the flashy shots but not always. But I have been working on adjusting according to situations. I would like to go for my shots but with discretion," Unmukt said.
"I have been meditating everyday and it has helped me perform under pressure."
The change did not come overnight. His last year's first-class season was also hampered by his expansive strokemaking but he kept working on his game, knowing well that a backward step will throw him out of contention in the cut-throat competition.
Perhaps, the under-19 World Cup final against Australia was a sort of redemption for him. He led his team in that tense chase, and most importantly finished the contest. The unbeaten century shone along with the gleam of trophy.
"I never thought the victory will make so many people happy," he gushed, dazed by the celebrations in the country.
Umukt, though, is aware the World Cup victory is just a part of the journey and not a destination. The stardom has begun to show the signs of exhaustion on him but is yet to seep in.
"I know a lot of guys who have done well in the under-19 but could not make it to the highest level. The victory has definitely given me the push and a platform. Playing in foreign condition was a good experience. It is rare to find bowlers bowling at the speed of 140/150 kmph at the under-19 level and we faced that in the World Cup," he remarked.
Unmukt attributes his progress to the exacting Delhi circuit, which has raised a stream of national and international stars. A product of the competitive club structure in Delhi, he has gained a lot from playing on the treacherous tracks. Even as a junior he played more of senior cricket. That toughened his mental make-up and gave him tremendous self belief.
"Delhi circuit is ideal for any junior. The pitches here help you develop into an aggressive batsman but you also learn to control your shots. You play so many 30-40 overs matches here, sometimes even two matches a day and that prepares you for tough situation. I have not seen that in any other city."
It is here that Unmukt perfected the square cut, his favourite shot. His ability to pick the ball early allows him the space to direct his shots. Just the way he did in the World Cup final when he cleared the boundary with inside-out strokes. He has a good defence and his repertoire of strokes is wide. Straight drive is one shot Unmukt would like to develop. "For that Sachin Tendulkar is the ideal man to follow," he smiled.
His coaches find his ability to grasp things quickly as one of his best qualities. Unmukt, too, has not shied away from taking help from the illustrious Delhi triumvirate. Be it Sehwag, or Gambhir, like an assiduous student Unmukt has always gleaned from his experience with them.
"I always liked to watch and learn. Even as a junior, I was pushed by my coaches to play with seniors," said Unmukt, who was groomed at Modern School, Barakhambha (by coaches Uday Gupte and Naveen Chopra) and L B Shastri Club. Sanjay Bhardwaj is his current coach.
"It taught me to develop my overall game because the seniors correct your technique at the right stage. I learned to grow as a professional. It made me tough."
He is being praised by one and all, including Kapil Dev. "He looks a very compact youngster with a still head. I am going to watch him closely," Kapil said.
Unmukt, however, has his feet firmly on the ground, for he knows the road ahead is tougher. He hopes to carry the high of World Cup victory in the Ranji season this year. "I got out to some good deliveries but I learned a lot. I decided to pick the loose deliveries which meant I had to leave the good ones. Cricket is a learning process and I am backing myself to excel this season," he said.
Next up for him is the tour to New Zealand with the India 'A' team. "It will be a great cricket education for me. My target always has been to do well in challenging conditions. I am taking a few days' break before joining the camp (in Bangalore)."
Away from cricket, Unmukt is a voracious reader. A student at St Stephen's College, he has never overlooked his studies. He maintains a diary like Steve Waugh to record his daily progress and hopes to turn it into a book someday. It has enhanced his leadership qualities.
The adulation, meanwhile, continues to pour in unabated and will only force Unmukt to grow faster. If he could translate it into his performance, it will be a journey in true sense of a boy and arrival of a man.
Unmukt was just 17, but was seen as someone with a treasure of talent. Not exactly an heir apparent to Delhi's stars but one who could carve out his own space and keep up the tradition of producing quality batsmen from the capital.
Unmukt had a problem though. He could never curb flashy strokes. His penchant for shots often left him short of bigger achievements; his talent went abegging for its appropriate due. The debut first-class season in 2010-11, however, heralded a turn-around.
Though he compiled only 304 runs in six Ranji Trophy innings, it included a 151-run knock against Railways at the Roshanara ground. A typically attacking innings with the flamboyant Shikhar Dhawan as his opening partner. Unmukt's impulsive strokeplay, however, got the better of him in the second innings. Delhi lost the match, but he learnt an invaluable lesson- to value his wicket.
"I learnt that day that I must finish a contest and not leave it to someone. The knock still remains very special to me. I got a lot of confidence from it. I tend to go for the flashy shots but not always. But I have been working on adjusting according to situations. I would like to go for my shots but with discretion," Unmukt said.
"I have been meditating everyday and it has helped me perform under pressure."
The change did not come overnight. His last year's first-class season was also hampered by his expansive strokemaking but he kept working on his game, knowing well that a backward step will throw him out of contention in the cut-throat competition.
Perhaps, the under-19 World Cup final against Australia was a sort of redemption for him. He led his team in that tense chase, and most importantly finished the contest. The unbeaten century shone along with the gleam of trophy.
"I never thought the victory will make so many people happy," he gushed, dazed by the celebrations in the country.
Umukt, though, is aware the World Cup victory is just a part of the journey and not a destination. The stardom has begun to show the signs of exhaustion on him but is yet to seep in.
"I know a lot of guys who have done well in the under-19 but could not make it to the highest level. The victory has definitely given me the push and a platform. Playing in foreign condition was a good experience. It is rare to find bowlers bowling at the speed of 140/150 kmph at the under-19 level and we faced that in the World Cup," he remarked.
Unmukt attributes his progress to the exacting Delhi circuit, which has raised a stream of national and international stars. A product of the competitive club structure in Delhi, he has gained a lot from playing on the treacherous tracks. Even as a junior he played more of senior cricket. That toughened his mental make-up and gave him tremendous self belief.
"Delhi circuit is ideal for any junior. The pitches here help you develop into an aggressive batsman but you also learn to control your shots. You play so many 30-40 overs matches here, sometimes even two matches a day and that prepares you for tough situation. I have not seen that in any other city."
It is here that Unmukt perfected the square cut, his favourite shot. His ability to pick the ball early allows him the space to direct his shots. Just the way he did in the World Cup final when he cleared the boundary with inside-out strokes. He has a good defence and his repertoire of strokes is wide. Straight drive is one shot Unmukt would like to develop. "For that Sachin Tendulkar is the ideal man to follow," he smiled.
His coaches find his ability to grasp things quickly as one of his best qualities. Unmukt, too, has not shied away from taking help from the illustrious Delhi triumvirate. Be it Sehwag, or Gambhir, like an assiduous student Unmukt has always gleaned from his experience with them.
"I always liked to watch and learn. Even as a junior, I was pushed by my coaches to play with seniors," said Unmukt, who was groomed at Modern School, Barakhambha (by coaches Uday Gupte and Naveen Chopra) and L B Shastri Club. Sanjay Bhardwaj is his current coach.
"It taught me to develop my overall game because the seniors correct your technique at the right stage. I learned to grow as a professional. It made me tough."
He is being praised by one and all, including Kapil Dev. "He looks a very compact youngster with a still head. I am going to watch him closely," Kapil said.
Unmukt, however, has his feet firmly on the ground, for he knows the road ahead is tougher. He hopes to carry the high of World Cup victory in the Ranji season this year. "I got out to some good deliveries but I learned a lot. I decided to pick the loose deliveries which meant I had to leave the good ones. Cricket is a learning process and I am backing myself to excel this season," he said.
Next up for him is the tour to New Zealand with the India 'A' team. "It will be a great cricket education for me. My target always has been to do well in challenging conditions. I am taking a few days' break before joining the camp (in Bangalore)."
Away from cricket, Unmukt is a voracious reader. A student at St Stephen's College, he has never overlooked his studies. He maintains a diary like Steve Waugh to record his daily progress and hopes to turn it into a book someday. It has enhanced his leadership qualities.
The adulation, meanwhile, continues to pour in unabated and will only force Unmukt to grow faster. If he could translate it into his performance, it will be a journey in true sense of a boy and arrival of a man.