As Jaydev Unadkat is ecstatic about being recalled in the Indian Test squad for the first time in 12 years, veteran Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik made a bold statement about him ahead of the two-match Test series opener against Bangladesh on December 14 in Chattogram.
Karthik said that Unadkat is unlikely to feature in India’s playing XI for the first Test against Bangladesh ahead of the likes of Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, and Shardul Thakur.
Dinesh Karthik was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz: “I think Unadkat might not play this series, to be very honest. There is Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, and Shardul Thakur. There is a good chance he might not end up playing this series, but I think that is okay.”
He even claimed that the Saurashtra pacer may not be retained for the Australia Test series in Feb-March once Jasprit Bumrah returns to action.
He continued, “The fact that he was rewarded, he has been given those whites to represent India, be part of the team, that matters the most. He might not even find a place in the team for the Australia series, with Bumrah or Shami coming in, we might move on.”
However, Karthik hailed Unadkat as “the most deserving fast bowler from the Indian domestic cricket” and said the way he has been leading Saurashtra over the years is just brilliant.
He signed off by saying, “An absolutely heart-warming story, he is probably the most deserving fast bowler from the Indian domestic cricket in the last couple of years for sure. I think he plays in a state where, we obviously know how the Rajkot wicket is, to get the number of wickets he has taken, led the team so well.”
(Cricbuzz inputs)
