All Of Us Were Looking Forward To This - Jaydev Unadkat Expresses Delight For Return Of Ranji Trophy Season

Saurashtra captain Jaydev Unadkat was delighted after the BCCI Secretary Jay Shah wrote to all the teams in the Ranji Trophy that all the arrangements had been made and the season will begin shortly.

Ranji season was cancelled in the previous year due to the rise of covid cases and the second wave that hit India quite hard. The unfortunate pandemic had also threatened to put a wrench in this year’s plans as well but the BCCI found a way past it.

“I am definitely very very excited. I was hoping that the Ranji Trophy does take place and I was practicing with the red ball all this while when we had this gap. My whole game revolves around the red-ball format. I form everything around the skills that I have with the red ball. I am that much more looking forward to Ranji Trophy to begin.”

“All of us were looking forward to this. The talk last time was that ‘let’s all be practicing. Whenever this comes around, we should be ready to go from ball one’. This is something that we will look forward to doing, having a camp to start the preparations that will help us to defend the title, which we have been waiting for two years now,” Unadkat told News18.

Jaydev Unadkat’s thoughts on where the team stands ahead of the new season

Saurashtra was crowned as the champions in the 2019-20 season when they defeated first-time finalists, Bengal, in the final. Since then, there are a few changes to the team but Unadkat insisted they will try their best and defend the title.

“To be the defending champions is a great feeling. All this while, we have been looking at the replays (of our win). I have been doing that and I still love to do it whenever I get a chance. It is a great feeling. We are looking to defend the title rather than just be the defending champions. Hopefully, we will put up a good show.”

“As defending champions, two years is a long time. We will start fresh, for sure. The core of the team remains the same. Obviously, we will miss Avi Barot, who unfortunately passed away (in October 2021 due to cardiac arrest).

“He was an established player in the side and will be missed. We are that much settled in terms of the experience we have. We will look to start fresh. Nothing comes for granted after two years. Same things remain for us as defending champions,” Unadkat added.

The skipper led from the front in the previous season where he took 67 wickets in 10 matches.

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