Before the COVID-19 pandemic brought the entire world to an abrupt halt, Jaydev Unadkat, the left-arm pacer, was going through a purple patch as captain of Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy and hoping to replicate the same level of success for Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Little he would've realised that his next opportunity on the field after taking Saurashtra to the premier domestic first-class title with 67 wickets at an astonishing average of just 13.23 in Indian conditions won't come till September.
Nevertheless, having arrived in UAE, Unadkat is confident that the extended lockdown and time away wouldn't hold him back when he finally hits the bowling crease again for Royals in IPL 2020, starting September 19.
"Becoming the first captain from Saurashtra to lift the Ranji Trophy was a special moment for me. I still look at it when I need some confidence. I am for sure going to carry a lot of confidence from this domestic season into this IPL," Unadkat told Khaleej Times in an email interview.
Isolated at the moment, Unadkat said he is pleased with his rhythm and doesn't think the five-month break has done him too much harm.
"Rhythm for a fast bowler is really important and when I got back to my training, I felt that the rhythm was still there. It will largely be about getting some match fitness back for me and hopefully, I can do that and carry the domestic form into the IPL season."
Unadkat realises a good IPL season will go a long way in helping him potentially return to the Indian limited-overs set-up.
However, the pacer is also dreaming bigger, he wants to comeback to the Test side and add to his tally of caps in the format after almost ten years since his debut in 2010, a case for which was backed by his Saurashtra teammate and Indian No.3 Cheteshwar Pujara himself.
"To be getting that sort of encouragement from someone who has played around 80 Test matches for India is massive. It gives me a lot of confidence and tells me that I'm on the right track," said the 28-year-old, whose success at the first-class level on Indian tracks without alarming pace is definitely worth lauding.
"It's always been on my mind to make a comeback into the Indian team, especially the Test team, more so since I made my Test debut in 2010 which didn't go well for me."
"Right now I feel, age is on my side and I am at the peak of my career and the next five years are going to remain that way and it's up to me if and how am I able to grab the chances that come my way," he added.
"Having said that, all I'm looking to do right now is take it one tournament at a time, at the moment the preparations are based around the IPL and white-ball cricket."
