Indian bowler Jaydev Unadkat has recently spoken about the state of a player he went through when he didn’t perform on the field and how people make the fun of him on social media.
He believes that the people only do it for fun or maybe to get attention and that’s why he really doesn’t follow social media, saying sometimes “people become so harsh” and even they don’t realize the cricketers are humans and they also face ups and downs in their career.
The seamer has been struggling in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the last two seasons and criticized by many especially because of his price tag with Rajasthan Royals.
After having a stellar season with the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant, Unadkat’s price tag reached to incredibly impressive heights in the IPL, as he was snapped up by the RR for Rs 11.5 crore for the 2018 and then Rs 8.5 crore in 2019 and now 3 crores for the upcoming season.
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Well, the 28-year-old couldn’t do justice with his price tag, taking only 10 wickets in his 11 outings for the Royals at an economy rate of 10.66, though the not so good performance did not deter the RR to spent Rs 8.5 crore to acquire his service for the IPL 2019.
However, the seamer did not have a good season last year as well, picking 11 wickets in 15 outings at an economy rate of 9.65 and was released by the RR last year, but then again the Royal bid for him for Rs 3 crore for the upcoming IPL 2020.
Unadkat told ESPNCricinfo, “At some point, I do feel that people become so harsh they don’t realize we are humans as well. But having said that, you can’t really go to every individual and see what their mindset is. They [trolls] do it for fun, or just to get attention. People have told me to not bother about that and that social media is something I shouldn’t really look at.”
The bowler further explained, “I haven’t had anyone coming up to me and telling me anything on my face. I think those people only mention you on social media. Face to face, they won’t speak anything. That itself shows that those things don’t really matter as much as you think they do at times.”
He signed off by saying, “We play this beautiful game for fans, for people to follow it and love it. But in our country, it happens that a minority do it out of hatred or jealousy. Critics can help you at times, tell you things that you don’t see in your game. But people who just abuse you all the time don’t really matter. When it started, it was difficult because I wasn’t used to it. But I’m pretty much immune to all that now. You have to develop a thick skin if you are playing cricket in India.”
(With ESPNCricinfo Inputs)
