In a surprising turn of events, former India Under-19 captain Unmukt Chand is set to take the field against his home country in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, donning the colors of the United States of America. Chand, who bid farewell to all forms of cricket in India in September 2021, has been making waves in the USA cricket scene, notably leading the Silicon Valley Strikers to the first Minor League Cricket T20 title.

Eligible to play for the USA from March 2024, three months before the T20 World Cup kicks off in the Caribbean and the United States, Chand expressed mixed emotions about facing the country where he once led the Under-19 squad. Despite acknowledging it would be a “very strange” feeling, Chand revealed that playing against India was his next goal after retiring, driven by a desire to test himself against the best team in the world.

Having successfully transitioned to the American cricketing landscape, Chand’s leadership and on-field prowess have caught the attention of selectors. If selected for the T20 World Cup, he would find himself competing against some familiar faces, including players he once captained for India ‘A’—Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav.

Chand is not the only former member of the 2012 Under-19 World Cup-winning team making waves for the USA. Harmeet Singh and Smit Patel, his teammates from that victorious campaign, are also likely to feature in the T20 World Cup 2024 squad against India.

The clash between India and the USA is scheduled for June 12 during the league stage, adding an intriguing storyline to the tournament. As cricket enthusiasts eagerly await this unique encounter, Unmukt Chand’s journey from India’s youth cricket to facing his former compatriots on the global stage adds a captivating dimension to the upcoming T20 World Cup.