IPL 2019 | I needed this to boost my own confidence, says Jaydev Unadkat
After having a rather tough 2019 IPL season, pacer Jaydev Unadkat was ecstatic after being named Man of the Match after the recent seven-wicket win against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Unadkat ended Saturday night’s match with figures of 2/26 in his four-over spell at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur.
Rajasthan Royals look like a different team altogether ever since former Australia captain Steven Smith has taken charge of the side. While Rahane has been able to express himself more freely with the bat at the top of the order, Smith has done well to get the best out of his players while also making some important team decisions.
Jaydev Unadkat, who was the costliest player at the 2019 IPL auction, has had a rather average season in this year’s IPL. However, Unadkat starred for the Royals as they beat Kane Williamson-led SRH in their last home game by seven wickets. Unadkat ended the night with figures of 2/26 and was handed the Man of the Match award as well.
"All I can say is I needed this. I have had a tough time and I needed this to boost my own confidence. The management and Smudge (Smith) have been backing me. I needed them in such tough moments, really glad. I think they had a good powerplay but we always knew we could come back once it was over.
"It was going to get harder and harder. We took the pace off the ball, had the fielders in right positions and that helped us in the end," Unadkat, who has an average economy of 10.70 in this year’s IPL, said at the post-match interview on Saturday.
Unadkat had become the costliest buy at the 2018 IPL auction when the Royals' management had decided to splash a massive sum of Rs.11.5 crores. Last season, the Saurashtra-born cricketer picked up 11 wickets from 15 matches as RR made the play-off stage.Â
