IPL 2018 | Jaydev Unadkat can't wait to give “good performances” for Rajasthan Royals

In the 2018 IPL auction, Unadkat became the highest Indian and the second-highest overall pick when Rajasthan Royals, after a bidding war with Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab, managed to snap up the left-arm pacer. This all became possible due to his performances in the last season of the league in which he took 24 wickets in 12 matches including a hat-trick with best figures of 5 for 30 for Rising Pune Supergiant and some good performance for the Indian team against Sri Lanka in the T20 series.

On being asked about the huge-deal signing, the Saurashtra man told ToI, "It feels great but that (the money) is the last thing on my mind right now. I just want to go out there and give a good performance on the field.”

However, nothing came on a platter for the former Gujarat state education board matriculation topper. After a forgettable Test debut for India at the SuperSport Park in Centurion in 2010, Unadkat’s stock dropped with each passing year and reached an all-time low when he suffered a stress fracture in his back in 2014. Many thought the injury would bring a premature end to his career, but with a determined head, Unadkat rose back stronger and returned in his first full season - 2015-16 - to secure 40 wickets in Saurashtra's Ranji Trophy campaign to the final.

"That was the most difficult phase of my cricketing life. The back injury was due to stress. I made some minor changes in my bowling post rehabilitation which helped," Unadkat said.  

Although the Indian pace-bowling is firing with all cylinders in South Africa, they still have an option to include a left-arm pace bowler in the squad, especially to bring in more variations to the unit. 

Asked if he harbours any hopes of an immediate comeback to the team, Unadkat said, "I played in the T20 series against Sri Lanka recently and I think I did well. I would like to keep performing well and see how things go from there".