Unmukt Chand and Manvinder Singh Bisla, one a hero of the 2012 Indian Premier League (IPL) and the other seeking glory after a huge promise shown in his junior days. These are hard times for them as they pursue their vocation in the punishing heat of the capital playing local tournaments with the same zeal as the IPL.
Unmukt and Bisla were pitted in opposite camps on Sunday with both cracking half centuries. Bisla, however, ended up in the losing team.
Bisla, who smashed a match-winning 89 in the 2012 final to help Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) win the title, is a forgotten man.
He was besieged by the media a few days after that knock — when he turned up for Air India in a local tournament — to such an extent that he went into hiding.
He faded away in the subsequent competitions even though he figured in two matches for Royal Challengers Bangalore last year.
‘Fame is not permanent’“Not all days can be same. Fame is not permanent and in any case you can’t stick to it. You have to accept things and move on. Can you relate whatever you do with fame? As a player it is important that I play my game as best as I can.
“And can you forget your grass-root grooming? Can you forget your childhood friends? I love returning to grassroots. It helps me stay grounded. It doesn’t matter if I am playing IPL or local cricket as long as I am playing,” says Bisla.
The 31-year-old Bisla last featured in a first-class match in December 2012 when he played for Goa against Assam. Apart from KKR and RCB, he has also played for Deccan Chargers and Kings XI Punjab.
Umukt, 23, has worn colours for Delhi Daredevils, Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians. He was in the current squad but was given time off to play some competitive cricket in his home town since Mumbai Indians have a week off from IPL.
Its next outing is on May 8 against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Visakhapatnam.
“This grind prepares you well,” feels Unmukt of turning out for a local club.
IPL has put some little known players in the international gaze. Players like Paul Valthaty, Sunny Sohal, Harmeet Singh, Bharat Chipli, Swapnil Asnodkar, Rahul Sharma, Kamran Khan, to name few, experienced the glitz and glamour of IPL before returning to local / domestic cricket. Kamran, in fact, disillusioned by the system, gave up playing.
Bisla and Unmukt well understand the importance of keeping themselves occupied. Bisla may not be assured of another IPL stint but he is working on it.
“One must look ahead,” he adds. Unmukt has his focus in place for the second half of the tournament when he rejoins the MI team.
IPL gives uncapped players a platform to gain recognition.
It also pulls the rug from underneath in a jiffy and packs off the player back to the grassroot. Harsh for some, part of life for some.
