Mumbai: Given the kind of competition that is going on to make a place in the playing XI, even after giving best performance, many players didn’t get a place in the playing XI. On the same note, Indian left-arm fast bowler Jaydev Unadkat who, had taken the most wickets in the previous Ranji season didn’t get a place for the England tour in the 20-man squad.
The veteran Saurashtra pacer recently expressed his disappointment over getting ignored by the selectors for the Test Series Down Under and the upcoming tour of England despite proving himself again and again in domestic cricket. “I expect that (selection in India team) when I am at my peak of my career, when I have performed the way I have, I was hoping I’ll get the call in team India somewhere down the line. The opportunities have become one. The board have reduced because of lesser amount of tournaments, but that has resulted only creating a bigger pool for every series. That way, it has become an opportunity in itself,” Jaydev was quoted as saying to Sportstar.
He also opined that he would utilise the emotion of not getting selected for any test series to motivate himself, and he will keep doing what he has been doing. “Not being selected in that sense has been very disappointing for sure, but as i said, I’ve got to keep doing what I’ve been doing. I am not going to allow my prime to pass just like that. Now that I’ve not got the chance despite the kind of season I had, it’s up to me how to continue the same form and keep myself motivated throughout. It is also a fact that I was the highest wicket-taker in Ranji Trophy. Nothing has really happened after that,” he added.
Jaydev was the top wicket-taker overall in the 2019-20 season, the left-arm pacer picked up 67 wickets from 10 matches. He not only finished as the highest wicket-taker of the tournament he also led Saurashtra to the Ranji Trophy title.
Talking about the historic Test series against Australia, Unadkat said he was upset as he didn’t get the call even after several players were ruled out due to injuries. He also reckoned that no first-class cricket in the 2020-21 season because of the Covid-19 pandemic also affected his chances. “Even during the Australia tour, with the amount of injuries that were happening, it became disappointing (to not be picked) afterwards. What they look for in players is current form more than format, maybe because I didn’t have a great IPL (2020).”
“Since there wasn’t much cricket happening this year and there was no Ranji Trophy 2020-21 season, I felt Australia tour was fine because everyone was fit in the squad. But looking at those who got chances, I felt I was deserved one. Now for the England tour, honestly i was hoping for it. I have been very honest in the past even, when I have said that the guys who are at the top are doing extremely well so I have to wait for my chance. This time around, I have been honestly disappointed. I’ll still take the disappointment positively to motivate myself to do better. That’s all I can do.”
