IND vs AUS: "JD, You Are A Part Of The XI"- Jaydev Unadkat Recalls 30-Sec Talk With Rahul Dravid

After making his Test debut in 2010, Jaydev Unadkat had to wait 12 years to participate in his second match for India. Unadkat, a left-arm quick from Saurashtra, made his debut for India at the age of 19 in South Africa while MS Dhoni served as captain.

Despite failing to pick up a wicket in India’s lone innings with the ball in Centurion, no one would have predicted that it would take Unadkat more than ten years before he next made an appearance in an India Test XI.

Before his ambition was ultimately realized in the Mirpur Test against Bangladesh, Unadkat labored for years on the local circuit for Saurashtra, producing one outstanding season after another.

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Rahul Dravid Told Me About Being Part Of The Playing XI: Jaydev Unadkat

Unadkat expressed his gratitude to a large number of individuals, but he particularly wanted to thank Rahul Dravid, who in the past 12 years transitioned from being his teammate to a coach. Unadkat revealed a nice but brief conversation he had with Dravid just before the coin toss, as well as how much pride he felt over all the congratulations messages that came his way.

“Everyone congratulated me, saying that it was well deserved. And even though it was repetitive I still felt a little sense of pride every time I heard that, that you deserve this call-up. On the day when the Test was starting, Rahul bhai told me in the morning: ‘JD, you are a part of the XI.

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And this is probably one of the most well-deserved call-ups that you have got. Be very, very proud of it and enjoy your time out there in the middle.’ It was just a 30-second talk,” Unadkat told ESPNCricinfo.

It Was A Simple Call From Chetan Sharma: Jaydev Unadkat

Unadkat not only fulfilled his desire to play for India once more, but he also made his comeback meaningful by taking three wickets in the opening innings. In the second innings, he eliminated Mushfiqur Rahim in addition to Shakib Al Hasan’s prized scalp by dismissing Zakir Hasan with an unbelievable ripper, giving him his first Test wicket. Chetan Sharma, the head of selection for the BCCI, also contributed to Unadkat’s momentous day.

“Chetan [Sharma] bhai called me and said, you don’t have to go to the Ranji Trophy game, you will have to join Test squad. It was a simple call where he just told me that I’d have to pack my bags for Dhaka,” Unadkat added.

“I was just thankful in that moment. I went into that trance mode, where everything becomes blurry and you just sort of enjoy the moment. We were in a car and I was with Rinny [wife], my sister and my brother-in-law, so there were screams and joy and ecstasy, which made it even more special.”

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