Jaydev Unadkat hopes to be at the peak of his game in next 3-4 years

The left-arm pacer is keen to find a place in the Indian squad.

By Salman Anjum - 26 May, 2021

Left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat feels that he will be at his peak for the next 3-4 years and, thus, his time will come to represent India again.

Unadkat, whose only Test appearance came in 2010 and last played for India in 2018, was overlooked for the upcoming England tour despite performing brilliantly in the Ranji Trophy 2019-20.

See Also: ‘Honestly disappointed but not frustrated’, Unadkat on selection snub for England tour

He led Saurashtra to their maiden title win and also bagged 67 wickets with a strike rate of 28.2 in the season.

"I will be biased if I talk about my selection (non selection in this case). I genuinely believe that I am in a phase of my career where the next three, four years I will be at my prime," Unadkat told PTI.

"I've been taking those wickets as well, it actually proves the fact that I am in a good space and I'm finding ways to get people out on different tracks in different conditions. And because of that, I do believe that my time will come," he said.

"The selection again is a tricky thing and normally you would have performance of India A tours to consider besides domestic cricket but that hasn't happened in pandemic," he added.

India’s second-string squad will tour Sri Lanka in July for six white-ball games and it is still not confirmed whether Unadkat will get a place.

"I know the life of a fast bowler is quite limited, but I still have that much time and all I can do now is, prepare for the next season, or whatever is coming up, even if anything comes up before the next season, I will be more than ready to take it," Unadkat said.

"I just feel more motivated than ever to keep doing what I am doing to keep taking wickets, keep pushing my own limits and pushing those standards higher and higher," he further remarked.

After a disappointing IPL last year in UAE, Unadkat did a decent job in the now-suspended IPL 2021. He claimed four wickets in as many games for Rajasthan Royals, including a three-wicket haul against Delhi Capitals.

"Though it was my fourth season with the team, Sangakkara wanted me to start afresh. The management wanted wickets from me with the new ball this season and I was able to do alright on that front whenever I got to play," Unadkat said.

"It was obviously a tough experience with the thing with the way things were shaping outside the IPL bubble. You were praying for everyone's well being outside. Inside the bubble, the management was was doing all that it could to do to take care of us," he concluded.

(With PTI inputs)

By Salman Anjum - 26 May, 2021

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