Cricket fans are getting a closer look at a surprising twist in a top player’s career. Unmukt Chand, the celebrated cricketer who led India to an Under-19 World Cup victory, made a big decision in 2021. He left Indian cricket to pursue his passion in the United States. Now, his story comes to the big screen in a new documentary, ‘Unbroken: The Unmukt Chand Story.’ Directed by Raghav Khanna, the film explores Chand’s journey. Both the director and the cricketer recently shared their thoughts on this upcoming release.
Raghav Khanna, the director, explained what sparked the idea for his documentary. He spoke with ANI, recalling a significant time in sports history. “India won the World Cup in 2011 after many years. It was an important moment for an entire generation, including me,” he said. The very next year, Unmukt Chand scored a brilliant century in the final in Australia. He led the Under-19 team to a World Cup win. Overnight, Chand became a media sensation.
“Then what happened?” Khanna wondered. “A few years later, I clearly remember seeing a notification on my phone. It said Unmukt Chand was retiring from Indian cricket.” This news made Khanna think deeply. “Such a bright, exceptional talent, what happened to him?” he pondered. He soon realized there was a bigger story, one that went beyond just cricket.
Unmukt Chand himself is very excited about the documentary’s premiere. He shared his feelings with ANI, saying, “I play cricket, I have always played cricket.” He added that going into the first match of any tournament is a unique experience. “I think this will be like going to the premiere of this documentary on Thursday,” he explained. He finished by saying, “But yes, I am very excited for it.”
Chand also talked about his big move to the USA. He said, “In 2021, I decided to go to America to pursue cricket.” At that time, cricket was quite new in the country. He believes he and a few others were among the first to start this trend of cricketers moving there. “Now, many players from different parts of the world have moved there,” Chand noted. He looks forward to the next few years. He predicts American cricket will reach the top, playing against and performing well against the best teams.
‘Unbroken: The Unmukt Chand Story’ is set to arrive in cinemas on September 12.