U-turn: Now St Stephen’s felicitates Unmukt Chand, says people like Chand suffer because of faults in the system

Making U-turn, St Stephen's College welcomed Unmukt Chand — under-19 cricket team captain, its student and opponent in court — back with a felicitation. The late-afternoon event at the college on Tuesday involved a slide-show reminding everyone of the highlights of his batting, says a report in The Times Of India, adding that Chand's team brought home the U-19 world cup - and both the principal, Valson Thampu, and Chand spoke. Thampu said he expected St Stephen's to produce many more such sportsmen.

"It's not by accident that Unmukt has become a star," he said. He was impressed, not so much by the runs or even the win, but by the "character of his innings". He commended the vice-chancellor for taking the decision to promote Chand to second year and added that it was because of the faults in the system that people like Chand had to suffer.

Chand spoke briefly saying that it was self-belief, communication and "controlled aggression" that did the trick for him and his team at the world cup.

Meanwhile Chief minister Sheila Dikshit on Tuesday announced that her government will give Rs 25 lakh to Unmukt Chand, captain of India under-19 cricket team, for steering the country to victory in the tournament, says a report in Deccan Herald. “We are proud of him, and as a token of appreciation we will give him Rs 25 lakh,” said Dikshit during a discussion on a resolution to congratulate Chand.

The resolution was unanimously moved by her parliamentary secretary Mukesh Sharma. Unmukt had also called on the Chief Minister at her office in Delhi Assembly, says a report in The Indian Express. "I hope he will become one of the top cricketers in the country in future like that of Sachin Tendulkar and others," she said. The Assembly also congratulated the Olympics medal winners.