IND vs BAN: "A Long Wait Over For Unadkat": Twitter Reacts To Jaydev Unadkat Returns To India's Playing XI After 12 Years

Published - 22 Dec 2022, 11:18 AM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:15 AM

Persistence and dedication have finally paid off! Jaydev Unadkat has been recalled to the Indian Test squad for the first time since 2010, although at the cost of Kuldeep Yadav.

Unadkat, 31, has been called up to India’s playing XI for the second Test against Bangladesh in Mirpur. Kuldeep, who was named Player of the Match in the first Test, was replaced by Unadkat. Kuldeep, who was playing his first Test since February 2021, claimed five wickets before scooping up three more in Chattogram.

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Jaydev Unadkat was brought in to surprise replace Kuldeep Yadav, who notched up a five-wicket haul in the previous Test to ‘cover all bases,’ as per stand-in Indian captain KL Rahul. “We have Jaydev Unadkat come in for Kuldeep Yadav. Hard decision on Kuldeep but we know Ashwin and Axar can find spin, and bring Jaydev in to cover all bases,” Rahul said at the toss on Thursday

Unadkat made his international debut for India at the age of 19 in 2010 against South Africa at Centurion, captained by MS Dhoni. In the Test, the left-arm pacer went without a single victory. He then participated in 7 ODIs and 10 T20 International matches for India.

Unadkat has taken 353 first-class cricket wickets from 96 games for a fantastic average of 23.04. Additionally, he has guided Saurashtra to victories in the Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy 2022.

Twitter Reacts To Jaydev Unadkat Returns To India’s Playing XI:

Jaydev Unadkat is playing a Test match after 4,389 days.

A long wait over for Unadkat.

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 22, 2022

Feel for Kuldeep yadav but couldn't be more happy for Jaydev Unadkat. I really wish he rise to the occasion and do well❤️. #jaydevunadkat #kuldeepyadav #BANvIND #CricketTwitter

— Shreeyu Jaju (@imShreeyu22) December 22, 2022

Who said dreams don't come true.#jaydevunadkat https://t.co/4PlyGKg1J7

— Kalpesh Bagal (@Gharkanaghatka_) December 22, 2022

Very happy for Jaydev Unadkat for the comeback.

But, what on earth was the management thinking when benching Kuldeep Yadav!!!

Unadkat may end up taking five wickets or even winning the match for us but still

Bangladesh struggled to pick Kuldeep in Chattogram#INDvBAN #BANvIND

— Sridhar_FlashCric (@SridharBhamidi) December 22, 2022

Indian team giving motivational and demotivational vibes in the same match. #INDvsBAN #JaydevUnadkat #kuldeepyadav

— Himanshu Pareek (@Sports_Himanshu) December 22, 2022

The only player from India's playing XI in Jaydev Unadkat's debut Test in Centurion, 2010, still a part of the Indian Test XI in Mirpur – Unadkat's comeback Test – is Rahul Dravid, the coach! #BANvIND #NeverGiveUp #CricketTwitter #IndianCricketTeam

— Arun Gopalakrishnan (@statanalyst) December 22, 2022

Clearly Gujarati preference in the team, Shardul Thakur who is with test team since last two years and performing well. Now he got dropped for Jaydev Unadkat who came as replacement in the team. WTH this @JayShah @BCCI @klrahul @vikrantgupta73

— Mr Om?️ (@MrOm14852020) December 22, 2022

Sunil Gavaskar said – "Jaydev Unadkat comeback is heart warming story and more special about his comeback, he never give up in last 12 years. I hope he does well and hope he picks wickets".

— Ishika Pandey (@Ishika_Pandey45) December 22, 2022

Is the Indian cricket team XI a recreational/fairy-tale-producing space now? The Player of the last match was left out: to fulfill someone's wish on Twitter? Why not rest Siraj for that? #KuldeepYadav #JaydevUnadkat #INDvBAN

— Uday Joshi (@udayjoshi98) December 22, 2022

Mohammed Shami, who was unable to play due to a shoulder injury, was replaced in India’s Test team by Unadkat. After returning from the T20 World Cup in Australia, Shami sustained the injury during a training session.

“Okay, looks like it’s real! This one is for all those who have kept believing & supporting me.. I am grateful,” Unadkat tweeted when he learned about the call-up.

Unadkat has only been called up for two Tests in the twelve years since his lone debut, which was during the 2010–11 South African tour.

India Playing XI: KL Rahul (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jaydev Unadkat, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj

Bangladesh Playing XI: Najmul Hossain Shanto, Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haque, Litton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan(c), Nurul Hasan(w), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Khaled Ahmed, and Taskin Ahmed.

Also Read: Explained: How Pakistan Can Still Qualify For WTC Final?