Jaydev Unadkat had given an excellent performance with the ball in the first half of IPL 2021. The left-arm pacer played four games and picked up an equal number of wickets at 7.06 runs per over. Although he had a disappointing last season, he made a comeback this time around.
Unadkat was a bit disappointed that he was unable to play all the games in IPL 2021 but he was happy with his form. He stated that after being in the RR team for four years, he was given a new role to play. Unadkat had to bowl with a new ball in the power play mostly and not many in the death. He was happy to do well but he wanted to play a few more matches and continue the rhythm. Unadkat reasoned that his not good enough performance in the last season would have affected his chance in IPL 2021 a bit but he would turn that around and prove himself again.
Unadkat’s best IPL 2021 bowing performance was against the Delhi Capitals. He managed to pick up three big wickets of Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, and Ajinkya Rahane. He explained that in this season, he was more confident in himself as compared to the last season. Unlike last season, he found his rhythm in the league in 2021. He said that he tried it focus more on his strengths and less on his doubts.
Jaydev Unadkat has established himself as an all-rounder
Not only did Unadkat contribute with the ball but also with the bat. He played some match-defining in 2021 that gave him confidence. Although he did not get an opportunity to bat in IPL 2021, he had his chance for Saurashtra in the Vijay Hazare trophy. His knocks with the bat helped his team win some crucial matches. Thereby, he is confident he can provide some useful runs at number 8 or 9 in the T20 format.
Jaydev Unadkat had been good in the few white-ball matches that he played for India. So he is confident of being part of the second string Indian squad that would fly to Sri Lanka. His performance in the last season and the first half of this season could solidify his chances of getting selected.
Unadkat feels that he if continues to perform consistently, then he could get the chance of wearing the Indian blue again. If he gets selected, he plans on leaving no stones unturned to establish himself as a player who can play at that level.