Despite being one of the top performers in the domestic circuit, left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat continues to wait for opportunities in the national side
Unadkat, whose only Test appearance came in 2010 and last played for India in 2018, was ignored for the tours of Australia and England last year even though he finished the Ranji Trophy 2019-20 as the highest wicket-taker.
The left-arm pacer led Saurashtra to their maiden title win and also bagged 67 wickets with a strike rate of 28.2 in the Ranji Trophy 2019-20 season.
The likes of Mohammed Siraj, T Natarajan, Navdeep Saini, Washington Sundar went on to make their Test debuts on the 2020-21 tour of Australia as the Indian team was hit by a number of injuries. It was during that phase Unadkat received a message of sympathy from veteran India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
“On January 2, last year Ashwin bhai [R Ashwin] texted me during the last Australia tour, where nearly every member of the squad, including the reserve bowlers, got a chance to play the four-Test series [because of injuries]. He said: ‘I feel for you and the way you have performed in the last [Ranji] season. But be right where you are in terms of your game and your mindset. Your time will come’," Unadkat said in an interview with ESPNCricinfo.
Jaydev Unadkat was part of the fitness camp that the BCCI had organised at the NCA last year for players who remain in contention for national selection. However, the 30-year-old hasn't been able to find a place in the national team yet.
“Last year I was part of a group of players shortlisted by the BCCI to attend a fitness camp at the NCA. That kind of thing obviously motivates you. And when you go there and coaches or selectors have a word with you, saying they are looking at you or whatever, that could be very important for us players on the fringes. That has not happened to me until now,” Unadkat rued.
“There have been times where I was told that they do not want me as a net bowler because I am a senior player and they want to give exposure to young bowlers as net bowlers. It has been especially tough when I see India travelling overseas with a large contingent,” he explained.
