In 2012, a young boy lifted the Under-19 World Cup trophy for India.
His name was Unmukt Chand. He played with poise beyond his years, led from the front, having smashed a remarkable match-winning century in the Under-19 World Cup 2012 final, and was hailed as the next big thing in Indian cricket. Commentators compared his temperament to legends, and even the brands noticed him while the country watched with hope.
And then… he slowly disappeared from the Indian cricket narrative. Not because he stopped scoring runs, not because he lost discipline, but because talent alone, in many sporting ecosystems, is rarely enough.
Years later, Unmukt Chand spoke openly about something most players whisper about in dressing rooms—favouritism, politics, and closed doors. In 2021, he took the painful decision to leave Indian cricket altogether and restart his career in the USA. A player who once symbolised India’s future had to walk away from the system that raised him. His story is not an exception, rather it is a pattern.
“Until 2017, when Gautam Gambhir remained Delhi captain, nothing went wrong in the team because he was a very strong leader. He fought for players and backed them. But when he retired, Delhi cricket went through plenty of upheaval. Nitish (Rana) was dropped, Dhruv (Shorey) was doing well, and he was dropped too. And everyone knows what’s happening,” stated Unmukt Chand.
“You can call it politics because they threw me out. It has never happened that you remove the captain of India A from your state team. I can’t put the blame on one person, but in a way, the selectors of DDCA are the ones taking such decisions. I felt bad that I served the Delhi team for such a long time and did reasonably well too, and then they made me the scapegoat,” he added.
All young cricketers kickstart their careers with an identical ambition that performance results will determine their success. The athletes dedicate themselves to training through nets and fitness exercises and morning workouts, and their various dedication efforts, because they believe their talent will generate success. The promise of meritocratic systems has been broken without announcement to the public who play grassroots sports in India. Favouritism has become one of the most discouraging realities of the cricketing journey, forcing many capable players to exit the game long before they reach their true potential.
The theoretical framework of cricket establishes it as a fair sport. The actual process of selecting players at lower levels especially in the national cricket leagues, depends on their existing connections and their social status and their ability to pay. The result creates an increasing divide between talent and opportunity which affects players from both underrepresented areas and players who come from less privileged backgrounds.
Favouritism uses vague cricket selection criteria as its cover while it operates through personal preferences and regional bias and financial influence. The system operates without showing itself to the public, yet, it creates severe consequences. The system further creates injustice when it denies cricket trial winners their deserved opportunities while granting chances to players who have connections. The process creates doubt about the system while it removes the excitement that motivates young athletes to compete.
When Talent Meets Biasness
The selection trials serve as the final evaluation of cricketers’ skills according to their standards at the grassroots cricket level. The unfair cricket trials turn into frustrating experiences for players. A player who consistently scores and bowls with discipline and fields with excellence still hears the same response: “Not selected.” The process provides no explanation. The process provides no feedback. The process provides no roadmap for improvement. The advice becomes difficult to implement because the system operates beyond my control. The system requires personal connections as the selection process needs to evaluate your performance.
It further creates disadvantages for athletes who come from rural areas and underprivileged communities. The system also excludes many talented cricketers from top-level training because they lack access to elite schools and powerful coaches and financial resources. The mounting emotional and financial burden creates a point where quitting becomes the only viable solution.
“You don’t play for the crowd; you play for the country. Focus on what you can control,” stated legendary Indian captain MS Dhoni.
C11CL Is Designed As The Perfect Cure
The C11CL (Champions 11 Cricket League) responds to existing structural deficiencies which have persisted over time. The C11CL which started in 2025 developed its selection system through performance-based assessments together with transparent operations to create an alternative path from standard selection methods. More than a normal cricket league, this event represents a national initiative which aims to restore public trust in youth cricket.
C11CL acknowledges that India’s cricketing talent exists throughout the country instead of just in major stadiums and top training facilities. Talent exists in every location, from village grounds to school fields. The system needs to establish an impartial mechanism which detects and develops talent through unbiased methods.
The Psychological Cost Involved Behind Being Overlooked
The continuous rejections which occur without clear explanations create enduring psychological damage to individuals. The young players experience internalized failure because they believe systemic bias indicates their personal shortcomings. The player experiences a decrease in confidence which leads to diminished self-belief and loss of enjoyment in the game. The families who dedicated their resources to support their dreams now face doubt about the value of their investment in the dream.
“Confidence is the most important thing in cricket. If you don’t have belief, you can’t perform,” stated former Indian captain Virat Kohli.
Favouritism strips players of this belief. When people do not receive recognition for their hard work they develop negative feelings which cause them to lose their desire to succeed. The loss affects more than the individual players because it results in a setback for Indian cricket. Each player who leaves the game early results in missed opportunities for scoring runs and taking wickets and reporting crucial events.
Favouritism causes individual harm because it destroys the fundamental principles which underpin competitive sports. Teams which choose their members based on bias instead of actual talent experience problems with both team spirit and player unity. Players stop competing fairly and instead compete for approval. The training process now emphasizes what people see instead of actual development. The process continues until standards reach a decline which results in the acceptance of average performance.
C11CL establishes open state-wide trials which allow players to defeat their opponents through actual performance. The selection process establishes methods which ensure that all stages of the process remain accessible for monitoring purposes. Players have complete understanding of their current performance level together with required improvements and available paths for advancement. The system achieves its goal of creating understanding, which leads to people believing in it. The system itself and the system itself and the system itself and the game itself and the game itself and the game itself all work to create this system.
Struggles Faced By Women Cricketers During Trials
Female cricketers face constant exclusion from cricket because of the ‘general perception’ that they must wait indefinitely for chances to participate in selection trials and camps. The system of male players receiving precedence makes gender discrimination into an ongoing problem that requires urgent solutions. The sporting world suffers from this situation because it creates restricted access for women and destroys the authentic competitive nature of sports.
Women cricketers dedicate themselves to training with the same level of commitment and discipline and passion that their male counterparts display, yet biased selection systems prevent their abilities from receiving proper acknowledgement. The selection process requires equal treatment as an essential requirement for all candidates. The cricket system can establish a system that values talent through equal opportunities which also allows female cricketers to demonstrate their skills.
The Silent Exit of Thousands
For every Unmukt Chand who finds the courage to speak, there are thousands who leave silently:
- A fast bowler who couldn’t afford repeated trial fees
- A batter dropped despite consistent performances
- A wicketkeeper sidelined because a “known name” returned
- A female cricketer told to “wait another year” while someone else leapfrogged
They stop playing not because they stop loving the game, but because the game stops loving them back.
Why Young Players Burn Out So Early
By the age of 14–16, many players already carry:
- Performance anxiety unrelated to skill
- Distrust in selectors
- Fear of speaking up
- Emotional exhaustion
They are asked to “be patient” in a system that shows no timeline, no feedback, and no accountability. Talent can survive bad form. It rarely survives prolonged injustice.
Fairness Is The Basic Principle
The selection process requires players to understand the reasons behind their selection or their exclusion from the team. The Champions 11 Cricket League selection system depends on three essential elements which include transparent selection standards and systematic assessment methods and regular updates to applicants about their selection status.
“If you remain honest to the game, the game will reward you,” said God of Cricket, Sachin Tendulkar.
C11CL envisions its future to extend beyond its inaugural edition. The program provides players with a structured path which enables them to achieve local recognition and national exposure. The program also further enables players to enter a professional environment which include mentors and cricketing experts and sponsors who support their development towards advanced game levels.
This process eliminates financial obstacles which would prevent players from participating in the league. The league provides a solution to decrease financial burdens, which make talented players leave the game at an early stage. C11CL establishes authentic cricket career advancement through its system which prioritizes opportunity above privilege. C11CL views cricket as a fundamental tool for individual personal development. Resilience develops through practicing fair competition. Confidence develops through providing equal chances to all participants. Honest selection processes create respect for the game and for teammates and for oneself.
So What Needs to Change?
1. Transparent selection criteria
Not vague “potential” or “team balance” explanations—but clear performance-linked benchmarks.
2. Short-format trials that reduce bias
When opportunities are limited and structured, influence has less room to operate.
3. Independent observers
Multiple evaluators reduce personal prejudice.
4. Equal visibility for every player
One good performance should not depend on who is watching that day.
5. Systems that reward courage, not compliance
Players shouldn’t have to stay silent to stay selected.
Final Thoughts
The future of Indian cricket depends on how we treat its roots. Unchecked favouritism results in talent loss through unrecognized opportunities. The narrative will change if systems such as C11CL become a standard practice. Our vision is clear: to become India’s most trusted and inspiring grassroots cricket league, where dreams turn into careers and talent is the only ticket forward. We envision a country where a player from any corner can rise through sheer skill and hard work – no politics, no references, no barriers.
Players in a system that eliminates favouritism develop their ability to trust their own efforts instead of relying on outside connections. They compete harder, support teammates, and develop resilience. This process creates better cricketers who also develop into better individuals who are ready to face challenges in their personal and professional lives.