Opinion Play now,ribbons can wait

Let’s get a few facts straight first. Only at the under-19 level,global as it may be,has Unmukt followed on Kohli and Kaif’s path. On the first-class circuit — a far better judge of human character and cricketing acumen — he is yet to even cement his place in the Delhi side,with just 11 games under his belt.

The ones who made it to the top after making a splash at the under-xyz levels are exceptions to the rule; not the rule itself. There have been plenty,as promising as Unmukt if not more,who have vanished once the jump from age-group to first-class was made. Here,the margins of error are far lesser. Here,simple catches (en route to an unbeaten ton in a final) are hardly ever put down twice.

Kohli and Kaif,like the few who did last the distance following their age-group triumphs,spent several hard months and years toiling away in the nurseries of the unspoken before they were even allowed a sniff at the big league. Days after participating in the junior World Cup,they immediately attended camps — like the ongoing India A one at the NCA that Unmukt is selected for,but isn’t yet a part of. (Thanks to the never-ending felicitations.)

It’s high time that Unmukt — once he gets time away from all the ribbon-cutting and dreams of acting with Shahrukh Khan that is — should do the same. Here’s a very illustrative story as to why.

Four editions ago,in 2006,two boys returned from an under-19 final with the world at their feet and Team India dreams in their eyes. One went back to the dusty climes of Ranji cricket and clawed his way up by notching hundreds consistently. The other was gloriously fast-tracked into the national limited-overs side without any first-class experience.

The first,Cheteshwar Pujara,is an integral member of our Test team today. The other,Rohit Sharma,hasn’t yet made his Test debut and is still proving himself on India A tours.

Five years from now,which side does Unmukt want to be seen on?

aditya.iyer@expressindia.com

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