Seamer Jaydev Unadkat is comfortable playing for the Rajasthan Royals at a cheaper fee than what was received from other franchises at previous editions of the Indian Premier League.
Unadkat was purchased by the Royals for Rs 3 crore at the player auction late last year. In 2019 and 2018, he had played for them at Rs 8.40 and 11.50 crore, respectively. Unibet have the Rajasthan Royals priced at 8.00 to win the 2020 IPL.
The experienced right-armer has also represented the Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Daredevils (since renamed the Delhi Capitals) and Rising Pune Supergiant in the IPL.
“I consciously didn't want to speak about it because I felt this has to be taken as lightly as it can be. I haven't thought about it as much as I did previously. All I know is I'm going to play in the same team, and I'm happy I'm going to play in the same set-up where I know the people, the management, the captain. But auctions, pressure and the things that people talk about – I'm just over all that,” Unadkat told ESPNcricinfo.
“That has been a trend with me for whatever team I've played in. People have been looking to get me back. All I can make out from that is that I must be doing something good for the team and with my performance.
“All I want is to be better at it, maybe not give them a chance to put me back in the auction again and prove that I'm worth more than what people think I am. But having said that, I am in a happy space about my cricket. If you would have asked me this question two years back, I would have talked a lot about it, but at the moment, it doesn't affect me at all, even if I talk about it.”
T20 World Cup aspirations for Unadkat
The 28-year-old Unadkat has taken 77 wickets in 73 IPL matches, including two five-fors, since debuting in 2010. He has collected one Test, seven ODIs and 10 T20Is for India, but hasn't added to the tally since March 2018. A solid performance in the 2020 IPL, though, might put him in contention for a berth in India's squad for the T20 World Cup (previously known as the World Twenty20) in Australia later this year.
The competition is such that whoever is getting chances, people are doing well. So I just need to focus on my skills. Of course, whatever efforts I'm putting in, it's all about getting my place back in the Indian team, but it's not all about the World Cup. It's a personal goal that I've set, and it's a process that will go on till I prove that I'm worth getting my place back in the team,” he added.
