Seamer and captain Jaydev Unadkat is proud after leading Saurashtra to next week's Ranji Trophy final against Bengal in Rajkot.
Unadkat has relished a fine stretch of form in the 2019-20 Ranji Trophy, snaring 65 wickets in nine matches at an average of 12.16.
“It means a lot, not in the sense that I have this many wickets, but it just means a lot because I have been able to win at least three or four games for my team on my own in this season. That's what I have been aiming for. If I have to be right up there in the bowling group we have in our country at the moment, I will have to do something which no-one else has been able to do. I think I am right up there now in terms of confidence, in terms of skills,” he was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
“Physically, it has been challenging for sure. It has been a long, long season and I was feeling a lot of that. I was drained but as it's just one game more and I am gonna push myself till the end. About this being a dream season, I think I would like to answer that question probably after the final. If I am able to win that game for my team, after that I would say that it was a dream season but not before that.”
Unadkat's prolific tally included a 10-wicket haul, showcased by seven in the second innings, in Saurashtra's semi-final victory over Gujarat.
“I am so happy that I cannot express it. Not only because we won the match but more so of the manner in which we did so. The way the game was oscillating from one side to the other, it cannot get better than this,” he added.
Unadkat in the IPL
Unadkat will play for the Rajasthan Royals for the Indian Premier League later this year. The 28-year-old right-armer previously represented the Delhi Daredevils, Kolkata Knight Riders, Rising Pune Supergiant and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL. The Royals won the inaugural IPL in 2008 – and are priced at 10.00 by bet365 for a second title this year.
