Jaydev Unadkat has emerged as the standout bowler for Rajasthan Royals (RR) in his first game in the ongoing IPL 2021 against Delhi Capitals (DC) on Thursday (April 15) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
The 29-year-old was at his destructive best on Thursday against Delhi Capitals (DC), as he scattered DC’s top order inside the powerplay overs to return with the brilliant figures of 3/15 in his four overs to help Rajasthan Royals (RR) register their first win in the ongoing tournament.
He dismissed DC's top three in Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, and Ajinkya Rahane for single-digit scores to help RR restrict Rishabh Pant and his team to 147/8 that Rajasthan chased down with three wickets in hand and 2 balls to spare, thanks to David Miller’s brilliant 62 and Chris Morris’ 36 on Thursday.
For his stunning efforts with the ball against DC in Mumbai, Unadkat was given the Player of the Match and Most Valuable Asset of the Match award on Thursday.
During a mid-innings interview on Thursday, the RR star revealed that he was waiting for such kind of spell, saying his team planned this in their meeting before their IPL 14 clash against the DC.
Unadkat said: “I have been waiting for this, no better feeling than this for a bowler. It was something which we planned in our meetings, we wanted not to give them the extra bit of pace all the time. Their batsmen were all playing with hard hands.”
Explaining his planning against the DC, the left-arm quick said: “If you see the stats I think I only bowled about the four-five change of pace. It was about hitting the hard lengths, hitting good lengths because it was doing a bit. Feel there was a bit of moisture and I made good use of it.”
He signed off by saying, “Was bowling with the kind of freedom I wanted with the new ball. Couldn’t do that last season. Had to step up this time. Didn’t get the first game so I knew the chances when they come, I have to take them.”
(With Cricketnext Inputs)
