"If There Is One Player In The Side Who Deserves To Play At The Highest Level, It’s Him" - Jaydev Unadkat Heaps Praise On Chirag Jani
Published - 03 Dec 2022, 06:08 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:15 AM
Saurashtra won the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2022 with a five-wicket victory over Maharashtra, their second title triumph in history. After winning the toss, Saurashtra elected to bowl first. They restricted Maharashtra to 248/9 in 50 overs, and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad reached a century, scoring 108 runs off 131 balls.
Chasing the target of 249, Saurashtra started off cautiously before the openers added a 125-run partnership. Wicketkeeper-batsman Sheldon Jackson played a brilliant knock of 133 runs off 136 balls, including 12 fours and five sixes, to reach the target in 46.3 overs.
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Skipper Unadkat kept in-form batter Gaikwad under a tight leash, and he finished his spell with 41 dots. Chirag Jani claimed a hat-trick in the 48th over of the match, which made the difference in Maharashtra’s total by at least 20 runs. The seam-bowling all-rounder bowled wicket-to-wicket and cleaned up Saurabh Nawale and Rajvardhan Hangargekar before trapping Vicky Ostwal in front to complete his hat-trick.
Maharashtra managed just two boundaries and scored 37 runs, losing five wickets in the final seven overs, which is a crucial turning point. Jani excelled in his all-round role, scoring an unbeaten 30 runs off 25 balls to keep Saurashtra in the chase. He was on the other end when Jackson hit the match-winning runs.
Chirag Jani Has Been Excellent – Jaydev Unadkat
Saurashtra skipper Jaydev Unadkat later said at the post-match presentation that Jani deserved to play for India. “Chirag Jani has been excellent and if there is one player in the side who deserves to play at the highest level, it’s him.”
It Was Challenging And I Was Enjoying It – Ruturaj Gaikwad
Ruturaj Gaikwad stated during the post-match presentation that he is trying to be as consistent as possible and that converting starts into big hundreds. The Maharashtra skipper scored three consecutive centuries in the tournament’s knockout stages.
“I’m just trying to enjoy the game and stay in the present, looking to give good starts and then convert them into big hundreds. I’m just trying to become as consistent as possible. It was important for me to get back well from injury. Had to lead from the front, being a senior player and an experienced player,” Gaikwad said.
