IPL 2019 | One tournament cannot define you as a player, claims Jaydev Unadkat

IPL 2019 | One tournament cannot define you as a player, claims Jaydev Unadkat

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Last year’s most expensive buy at the IPL auction, Jaydev Unadkat, had a below par outing with Rajasthan Royals but asserts that he won’t let one tournament define him as a player. Unadkat was picked up for a massive Rs. 11.5 crores but managed only 11 wickets from 15 matches last season.

A lot was expected of Jaydev Unadkat, who had previously represented the likes of Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore after he was bought for a massive sum of Rs. 11.5 crores at the 2018 IPL auction by the newly-returning Rajasthan Royals franchise. However, the speedster failed to live up to his price tag as he ended up having a fairly average season for the Royals as he managed to pick just 11 wickets from 15 matches.

But Unadkat, who has played 10 T20I’s for the Indian senior team, revealed that he won’t let a single tournament define him as a player. The Saurashtra pacer added that a hefty price tag is an added mental pressure for any cricketer.

"After the (IPL) season, my mind has only focused on being on the pitch and getting wickets. All the talks of the price tag do affect you mentally but I have played enough to not let it change my game. I knew that after the season that I would be criticised after IPL but I'm happy with the domestic season so far," he told TOI. "What is important is to get out of that mind frame after a bad season where you performances were nothing compared to what got you that price.

"One tournament cannot define you as a player. The last IPL has helped me grow as a player and I am confident of doing well in the next IPL as well," Unadkat said in a recent interview with Cricbuzz.

A couple of years ago, Unadkat took an impressive 24 wickets from 12 games for Rising Pune Supergiants under the leadership of MS Dhoni. The 27-year old pacer will once again go under the hammer on Tuesday for a base price of Rs. 1.5 crore, after Rajasthan Royals, opted to release the left-arm bowler from their roster.

Since the last IPL, Unadkat has taken a total of 20 wickets in 11 limited-overs matches and 16 wickets in 10 innings of the long format. Meanwhile, after Saurashtra clinched an important win over Maharashtra on Monday, the players will have a day-off which also happens to be the day of the auction and Unadkat revealed that, "We will all be watching it. Personally, I will accept whatever comes my way." 

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