Jaydev Unadkat got his due for his exploits in the domestic cricket when he made a comeback to India's fold after a long wait of 12 year. The senior pacer, who debuted for India back in 2010, made his comeback memorable and helped India whitewash Bangladesh in the just concluded Test series.
India's veteran off-spinner spinner Ravichandran Ashwin lauded Unadkat's comeback and said the pacer completely deserved for all he has performed in the domestic circuit. He went on to say that his performance at domestic level should not be overlooked.
Despite putting up a show for Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy over the years, which also included an elusive trophy, Unadkat failed to grab the attention of selectors.
"He posed with the trophy and I told him you could lift this trophy because of the other trophy (Ranji trophy) that you lifted. You completely deserve for all what you have done for Saurashtra cricket," Ashwin said on his Tamil YouTube Channel in a segment called 'Kutty Story'.
Unadkat played a significantly instrumental role in India's victory in the final Test against Bangladesh as he returned with 2/50 and 1/17 in the first and the second innings respectively.
After spearheading Saurashtra to coveted Ranji Trophy title in 2020 with 67 scalps, Unadkat went on to clinch yet another trophy for his team in the Vijay Hazare Trophy one-dayers in 2022, which scripted his Test comeback after a long wait.
"He bowled like an experienced pro and it is not easy. Everyone will have white ball memory and how well he didn't bowl for Rajasthan and so on. But go and see his red ball numbers," Ashwin said.
"He has been a torchbearer of Saurashtra cricket. If Saurashtra is a power house in domestic cricket, it is because of Jaydev. He was not out in first innings and second innings I had a feeling he would be not out and hit winning runs," the ace India spinner said.
"In India if there is a hot selling topic, everyone will have a say about that. They forget other people's struggle. But how well did Unadkat bowl in this Test match. It's not easy guys.
"We should take a closer look at our domestic cricket. IPL is changing lives and it takes centre stage as it's bread and butter.
"They are showing their ability in IPL and getting recognition with Test and ODI call ups. But 70 to 80 per cent of people playing cricket in India are smashing doors with performances in Ranji Trophy," Ashwin concluded.
