'Everything is 10x in IPL as compared to other leagues; BBL is like India's SMAT' - Unmukt Chand

Former India Under-19 captain Unmukt Chand has explained what makes the Indian Premier League (IPL) different from other leagues.

The right-handed batsman played 21 games in the IPL spanning from 2011 to 2016. He plied his trade for Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians, and Rajasthan Royals in the tournament. Unmukt Chand could not really make it big in the IPL as well as Indian cricket before deciding to move to the USA. In the IPL, he managed to score 300 runs at an average of 15 and a strike rate of 100.

In 2021, he decided to move to the USA and currently represents the same country in international cricket. After switching to the USA, he has also plied his trade in different T20 leagues, which is not allowed for active Indian players. The former Delhi batsman has played in Bangladesh Premier League, Big Bash League as well as Major League Cricket.

Unmukt Chand opens up on IPL’s status:

Having played in different T20 leagues around the world, Unmukt Chand has said the IPL is ‘like 10x’ in everything when compared with other leagues. Talking about the BBL, he stated that while the tournament is a great place to play cricket, it is like India’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and not really the IPL.

“Yeah obviously these leagues are big in their own ways. Obviously IPL is another ball game altogether because in terms of cricket, you know, you know, whatever it generates, the amount of people who are involved, the whole managements and you know everything is like 10x in IPL as compared to any other leagues,” Unmukt Chand was quoted as saying by Times Now.

“I mean playing the Big Bash in Australia is anyways great. It is a great place to play cricket where you know you have your sport, you have your sports-loving people, they come and watch and good grounds, good stadiums, good wicket. But Big Bash was more like it’s Cricket Australia’s premier tournament like you know we have a Syed Mushtaq Ali in India. So it’s that but obviously done at a bigger stage,” he added.

Meanwhile, Unmukt Chand is set to play against India in this year’s T20 World Cup. The USA have qualified automatically for the marquee event as co-hosts. India will take on the USA on 12 June in New York.