Left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat realised his dream of playing another Test match for India during the recently-concluded tour of Bangladesh.
The Test match in Dhaka was Unadkat’s second red-ball appearance, 12 years after his Test debut against South Africa in Centurion.
In all those years, Unadkat put all the hard yards in domestic cricket. Despite performing exceptionally well in the Ranji Trophy, he couldn’t find a spot in the national side in the last few seasons.
However, senior pacer Mohammad Shami’s injury eventually paved way for his much-awaited comeback to the Indian Test team earlier this month.
Speaking on his YouTube Channel, India off-spinner R Ashwin said Unadkat’s comeback has shown that performance at the domestic level should not be overlooked.
“He posed with the trophy and I told him you could lift this trophy because of the other trophy (Ranji trophy) that you lifted. You completely deserve for all what you have done for Saurashtra cricket,” Ashwin stated.
Jaydev Unadkat put on a spirited performance on a spin-friendly Shere Bangla National Stadium track, returning with three wickets across the two innings.
“He bowled like an experienced pro and it is not easy. Everyone will have white ball memory and how well he didn’t bowl for Rajasthan and so on. But go and see his red ball numbers,” Ashwin said.
“He has been a torchbearer of Saurashtra cricket. If Saurashtra is a power house in domestic cricket, it is because of Jaydev. He was not out in first innings and second innings I had a feeling he would be not out and hit winning runs.”
While the IPL often hogs the headlines for unearthing the best of talents for Team India, Ashwin believes domestic tournaments such as Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy have been the real platform for Indian talents.
“In India if there is a hot selling topic, everyone will have a say about that. They forget other people’s struggle. But how well did Unadkat bowl in this Test match. It’s not easy guys.
“We should take a closer look at our domestic cricket. IPL is changing lives and it takes centre stage as it’s bread and butter.
“They are showing their ability in IPL and getting recognition with Test and ODI call ups. But 70 to 80 per cent of people playing cricket in India are smashing doors with performances in Ranji Trophy.”
Ashwin cited the examples of Sarfaraz Khan, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shahbaz Nadeem and Abhimanyu Easwaran to vindicate his point.
“I can give you many examples. Unadkat, Saurabh Kumar. He plays for UP. He has a contract with Kings XI but consistently gets wickets in first class cricket.
“Shahbaz Nadeem got his opportunity too. You know Yashasvi Jaiswal through IPL. But he has scored 1500 runs in 14 or 15 first-class games.
“Sarfaraz Khan of Mumbai, they will immediately say he hasn’t scored runs in India A but a first class cricketer has to perform at every level to get selected.
“Ranji, Duleep, Irani and India A and if you fail at one level you will be criticised. Just because in IPL they perform in front of our eyes, we recognise them but we fail to recognise the hardwork of other cricketers.
“Abhimanyu Easwaran, he scores quality hundreds at Eden Gardens every year and it’s not easy,” Ashwin said.
(With PTI Inputs)
