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Left-arm fast bowler Jaydev Unadkat is a rising star in Indian cricket, renowned for his swing and ability to pick up wickets both at the start of innings and at the death. With an impressive domestic record and some notable feats in international cricket, Unadkat has established himself as one of India's most promising young cricketers.
Born on 18 October 1991 in Gujarat, India, Jaydev Unadkat was introduced to cricket by his father at a young age. He quickly developed an interest in the game, honing his skills by playing with local clubs and teams. Despite facing several challenges early on in his career due to a lack of facilities and resources, he remained determined to pursue his passion.
Unadkat's breakthrough came through the Duleep Singh School of Cricket where he impressed coach Ram Odedra with his unique bowling action and ability to land the ball on the seam. He soon caught the eye of scouts from Kolkata Knight Riders who signed him up for the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Unadkat made his first-class debut for India A against West Indies A at Grace Road in 2010, taking a match-winning 13 for 103. He was subsequently selected to lead India's attack in the Under-19 Cricket World Cup held that year.
After impressing with Kolkata Knight Riders during IPL 2011-12, Unadkat made his Test debut for India against South Africa later that year but had a forgettable outing going wicketless in 26 overs for 101 runs.
However, he continued to impress domestically, amassing wickets with impressive performances for Saurashtra in Ranji Trophy seasons before experiencing a stress fracture setback in 2014.
Unadkat returned to Indian cricket with a bang in 2017, taking his team Rising Pune Supergiant to the IPL final with some outstanding bowling performances. He was also a regular on India's T20I side.
In the domestic circuit, Unadkat was selected for India Blue in the 2018-19 Duleep Trophy and named in India B's squad for the 2018-19 Deodhar Trophy. He continued his impressive form during the 2019-20 Ranji Trophy season, captaining Saurashtra to their maiden title and finishing as the tournament's leading wicket-taker with 67 dismissals in ten matches.
Unadkat subsequently made a comeback to the Test side in December 2022 after 12 years as a replacement for Kuldeep Yadav.
Unadkat is a left-arm fast bowler who can swing the ball both ways. He has developed variations for white-ball cricket, making him a valuable limited-overs bowler due to his ability to vary pace. Known for his ability to pick wickets with the new ball and at the death, he has matured into a complete long-format bowler.
Achievements: Unadkat led India Under-19s' attack in the World Cup held in New Zealand in 2010. In the IPL season of 2017, he was instrumental in bowling Rising Pune Supergiant into the IPL final.
Jaydev Unadkat has been a regular member of the Indian cricket team in ICC tournaments, where he has proven his worth with his exceptional skills. In the 2010 Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand, Unadkat was named captain and led the Indian attack with distinction. He took seven wickets in six matches, including figures of 3/25 against Pakistan.
Unadkat has also played an important role for India in other major tournaments like the Champions Trophy and World T20. He was part of India's squad for the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy but didn't get many opportunities to play. In the 2016 World T20 held in India, Unadkat played two games and picked up three wickets at an average of 10.33.
Apart from international tournaments, Unadkat has made his presence felt in domestic cricket as well as IPL. In the Ranji Trophy for Saurashtra during the 2019-20 season, he emerged as the leading wicket-taker with 67 dismissals in ten matches. He was instrumental in helping Saurashtra win their first-ever Ranji Trophy title, taking ten wickets in the final against Bengal.
In IPL, Unadkat has plied his trade with various teams such as Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), Rising Pune Supergiants and Rajasthan Royals. In IPL's 2017 edition while playing for Rising Pune Supergiants he was their standout bowler taking 24 wickets at an economy rate of just over seven runs per over.
Jaydev Unadkat is a left-arm fast bowler who can swing the ball both ways effectively. Known for his ability to pick wickets with new balls and at death overs, he is considered a complete long-format bowler. Over the years, he has developed variations that make him a valuable asset in limited-overs cricket.
Unadkat's primary role in the team is to provide breakthroughs whenever needed. He is known for his ability to take crucial wickets at important moments of the game. His bowling style can be described as deceptive, as he has a good bouncer and a slower ball in his arsenal.
In terms of off-field personality, Unadkat comes across as humble, grounded, and dedicated to his craft. He is known for being media-shy but always approachable to fans who admire him from afar or those who hope to learn from him.
Jaydev Unadkat has emerged as one of the most promising left-arm seamers in India's cricketing circles. His bowling style, primarily aimed at swinging the ball both ways, has been a refreshing change for Indian cricket fans. Unadkat has shown his mettle across all formats of the game, from domestic to international cricket to IPL.
In an era where India is struggling to produce quality left-arm pacers, Unadkat's emergence has been nothing short of a blessing for Indian cricket. He has paved the way for other aspiring pacers with his unique blend of pace, swing, and accuracy.
Jaydev Unadkat's performances on the field have been recognized with awards and accolades throughout his career. He was named as Leading wicket-taker in the 2019-20 Ranji Trophy with 67 dismissals in ten matches that helped Saurashtra win their first-ever title under his captaincy.
Unadkat was awarded the best bowler award by Rajasthan Royals during IPL 2020 after picking up 11 wickets in seven games.
He was also named as part of India A squads that played Duleep Trophy matches against established national players. In addition, he was appointed India Blue team captain in the 2018-19 Duleep Trophy and India Red team captain in the 2019–20 Duleep Trophy.
Unadkat's leadership skills were further recognized when he became the first skipper to lead Saurashtra to their maiden Ranji Trophy title in March 2020. He led from the front, taking three wickets in both innings of the final against Bengal and guiding his team to a memorable victory.
Jaydev Unadkat's cricketing career has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. The left-arm pacer started his journey with Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL but made his international debut for India against South Africa in December 2010. However, he had a forgettable start as he went wicketless on his debut.
After being dropped from the national side, Unadkat focused on domestic cricket, where he emerged as one of the country's top performers. His performances earned him recalls to the T20I and Test sides, where he showed remarkable improvement and cemented his place as India's go-to left-arm seamer.
FAQs
What is Jaydev Unadkat's highest T20I wicket haul?
Jaydev Unadkat's highest T20I wicket haul is 4/25, which he achieved against Sri Lanka in the Nidahas Trophy final in 2018.
Has Jaydev Unadkat played any significant innings in his career?
While Unadkat is primarily known for his bowling, he scored an important half-century (84*) against Mumbai during the Ranji Trophy semifinals in 2020.
What is Jaydev Unadkat's Net Worth?
Jaydev Unadkat's Net Worth is approximately Rs. 15 crore INR.
Who is Jaydev Unadkat's wife?
Rinny Kantaria is Jaydev Unadkat's wife.
Has Jaydev Unadkat ever taken a five-wicket haul in Tests?
Jaydev Unadkat has taken 5 wickets and a hat-trick inside two overs against Delhi.
