Indian pacer Jaydev Unadkat opened up about Team India’s head coach Rahul Dravid’s priceless words ahead of his return to the Test arena after more than 12 years.
Unadkat made his comeback to India’s Test side on the Bangladesh tour in December 2022, on the back of his stunning performances in domestic cricket.
Well, the Saurashtra captain made the most of a well-deserved opportunity by taking three important wickets, as India won the second Test by three wickets in Mirpur. Unadkat recently recalled all the congratulatory messages he received on his comeback and a special yet short chat with Dravid.
Jaydev Unadkat was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo: “Everyone congratulated me, saying that it was well deserved. And even though it was repetitive I still felt a little sense of pride every time I heard that, that you deserve this call-up.”
He continued, “On the day when the Test was starting, Rahul bhai told me in the morning: 'JD, you are a part of the XI. And this is probably one of the most well-deserved call-ups that you have got. Be very, very proud of it and enjoy your time out there in the middle.' It was just a 30-second talk.”
Apart from Dravid, the veteran pacer had also talked about the call he got from the BCCI chairman of selectors Chetan Sharma. He recalled, “Chetan [Sharma] bhai called me and said, you don't have to go to the Ranji Trophy game, you will have to join Test squad. It was a simple call where he just told me that I'd have to pack my bags for Dhaka.”
Unadkat signed off by saying, “I was just thankful in that moment. I went into that trance mode, where everything becomes blurry and you just sort of enjoy the moment. We were in a car and I was with Rinny [wife], my sister and my brother-in-law, so there were screams and joy and ecstasy, which made it even more special.”
