Jaydev Unadkat enjoys healthy competition

Mumbai: Saurashtra pacer Jaydev Unadkat made his Test debut at the age of 19 during India’s tour of South Africa in 2010. He made a brief comeback during the ODI series in Zimbabwe in 2013. After that, he spent his time grinding out in the domestic cricket. But his big turnaround came during the IPL-10 when he took 24 wickets for Rising Pune Supergiant.

Unadkat got another lifeline when he was picked in the T20 squad for the Sri Lanka series and the left-arm pacer did justify his selection by taking four wickets and giving away just 44 runs in three matches.

“This series has really helped me gain the confidence needed at international level. In the past also, whenever I have done well in domestic (cricket) I have got my chances. So it was about doing well out there and getting that confidence,” said Unadkat.

“It was just not coming to me when I played for India the previous time. But yes, this series has definitely been a turnaround for me and I really needed (it) at this point in my career and I would be really happy to take it forward from here,” he said.

Unadkat said he offers variation to attack being a left-arm pacer but is aware of the standards set by Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

“It’s about backing myself in high-pressure situations. I have seen all good players do that and I’ve learnt from them.

“Bhuvi does it extremely well in pressure situations. We see Jasprit do that for India as well. Be it any situation, pressure or otherwise, I need to back my strengths,” he said.

He said bowling on flat tracks in domestic cricket has immensely helped him improve his fitness and made him more mature. “For a fast bowler, fitness is one aspect that really helps to build on the skills. It’s something that is not related to the game directly but its impact is going to be on the bowling. Maybe that’s the only thing that has changed and I have certainly matured as a player,” he added.