Jaydev Unadkat led Saurashtra by example and otherwise in the recently concluded Ranji trophy season. His extraordinary bowling performance stood out after he conceded 101 runs in 26 overs on his Test debut in 2010. It was also his solitary Test appearance for the national team.
Cut to 2016, a fit-again Jaydev Unadkat, was again eyeing Test comeback. It was after he picked up 11 wickets from three matches in a Ranji season, including a six-wicket haul against Assam at the Eden Gardens.
But he was far from being considered after this performance.
I am at my peak: Jaydev Unadkat
Jaydev Unadkat, who set new fast-bowling record in Ranji trophy this season, reckons he is at his peak now and got a lot of options to take wickets.
“I would say I am at my peak. I’ve now got a lot of options of getting a wicket, which is always the thing a bowler looks for. You can’t be a one-trick pony,” Jaydev Unadkat was quoted as saying by espncricinfo.Â
Sensational Jaydev Unadkat spell in final session
In the Ranji trophy semi-final between Gujarat and Saurashtra, the home side had not picked up a wicket in 42 overs. Unadkat did not hit the timber since the 15th over of the innings. But then comes the 28-year-old steaming in, in the 67th over.
He gets an edge off the set Parthiv Patel from a good length delivery which shaped away from him to break a 158-run stand. In the very next delivery, he dismisses Axar Patel, by taking a brilliant low catch off his own delivery.
It was then onto Gujarat’s Chirag Gandhi to show some resilience but he too failed in front of the fiery pace from Unadkat. And then he sends back tailender Arzan Nagwasawalla to book a final berth for Saurashtra in the prestigious Ranji trophy.
