Jaydev Unadkat returned to India's Test team after 12 years and repaid the faith put in him by helping the team win the second Test and complete a 2-0 whitewash of hosts Bangladesh. Unadkat took three wickets in two innings, playing his second Test since 2010.
What worked for Unadkat was his ability to bowl long spells on flat decks. 12 years after his Test debut, he was also a much wiser man having captained Saurashtra to unprecedented success.
"Domestic cricket has helped me immensely that way. You always have a role to play as a bowler even when you aren't getting the wickets. You can create pressure and put the batter in doubt and other bowlers can capitalise on that. I got my chance as the management felt I was suited to the pitch. Like you said the conditions were similar (to Rajkot), with not a lot of pace off the wicket and you will have to extract whatever you can by hitting the length hard.
"I knew if I will stick to my strengths, there will be something coming my way and that is how I got that extra bounce," Unadkat told PTI in an interview after his arrival from Bangladesh.
The pacer's inclusion in the side came at the expense of spinner Kuldeep Yadav, whose exclusion after an eight-wicket haul in the series opener triggered a selection controversy. But Unadkat did not pay much heed to these issues. "Absolutely not. When you don't expect things and they happen, I take it in my stride. I just wanted to contribute. If not take a wicket then create pressure from the other end. That was the thought," he said.
Waiting for another call-up to the national side can be frustrating. Despite tasting success in the Ranji Trophy but he was also busy building a champion team at the domestic level. "I always believed that I would get another chance. I didn't know how to be honest as the Indian pacers were doing well over the past three to four years. I was getting inspired watching them be honest.
"Leading Saurashtra has helped me focus on my game and not be distracted by anything else. It has helped me see the future. Captaining Saurashtra, I am not just caring for my own performance but also for others and team goals. That kept me going," he added.
