In what can be described as a cricketing full circle, three celebrated members of India’s 2012 Under-19 World Cup-winning team are poised to face off against their home nation at the esteemed ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, set to be held in the United States and Caribbean. Harmeet Singh, Smit Patel, and Unmukt Chand, who once basked in the glory of their U19 triumph with the Indian team, are now likely to don the stars and stripes as they represent the USA in one of the most anticipated cricket tournaments on the international stage.
The trio, all key players in their U19 World Cup victory, have transitioned from their Indian roots to American cricket with aspirations of playing at the highest level once again. Left-arm orthodox spinner Harmeet Singh and wicketkeeper-batter Smit Patel have already secured their eligibility to represent the United States, while Unmukt Chand, the successful captain of the 2012 squad, is expected to complete his qualification process by March.
Scheduled to take the field against India on June 5 in New York, the match promises to stir a wealth of emotions as these players face their former teammates. The avenue to play against India isn’t just a professional landmark for these cricketers but also a deeply personal challenge as they seek to pitch themselves against peers with whom they once shared not just a dressing room but also camaraderie and dreams of cricketing grandeur.
Reminiscing on his past experiences and looking ahead to the potential clash, Unmukt Chand, in an interview with Cricbuzz, reflected the mixed sentiments. As the skipper who led prodigious talents like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Suryakumar Yadav during India A tours, the prospect of competing against India is both foreign and exhilarating. “Something which would be very strange, but I think since I’ve retired from India, my next goal was always to sort of play against India, and not in any bad blood but keen to test myself out against the best team in the world,” he conveyed with the spirit of a true sportsman.
Smit Patel shared with Cricbuzz an anecdote from the time when he captained a young Bumrah in an age group fixture. His narrative revealed not only the sense of surprise at Bumrah’s nascent talent but also the fondness with which they viewed their fast-bowling peer. “Have spent a lot of time with Jassi (Bumrah) over the years. Still remember the day he rocked up to practice for the first, and he left us awestruck with what we were witnessing,” Smit said with a chuckle. Back then, the raw yet impressive Bumrah had even inspired a quirky team nickname—”Jasprit Gumrah.”
Tentatively set to join the fray in Group A, the American team will face a battery of formidable opponents, including not only India but also Canada, Ireland, and the ever-formidable Pakistan. Matches played by the group will unfold on American soil, offering the sport’s burgeoning fan base in the USA the chance to witness international cricketing fever up close.
For the USA-based Indian trio, the opportunity to compete against their homeland is a testament to their unwavering passion for the game and a reminder that the spirit of cricket transcends boundaries, fostering global connections and a mutual respect for talent and determination. As these former young guns of Indian cricket gear up for the T20 World Cup, they do so not just as representatives of their adopted nation but as embodiments of cricket’s universal allure and enduring friendships forged on the pitch.
