I expected too much from myself last year: Jaydev Unadkat

The high price tag in the IPL had nothing to do with his below-par performance, says Unadkat

February 23, 2019 09:47 pm | Updated 09:47 pm IST - INDORE

Confident: Jaydev Unadkat says if he keeps on playing the way he is now, the time will come for a recall.

Confident: Jaydev Unadkat says if he keeps on playing the way he is now, the time will come for a recall.

Ahead of the Indian Premier League’s 2018 edition, Jaydev Unadkat was the talk of the town, having emerged as the highest-paid Indian cricketer during the preceding auction.

And from the manner in which the Saurashtra left-arm pacer performed for Rajasthan Royals — 11 wickets at an average of 44.18 and an economy rate of 9.65, it would appear that the bowler had buckled under the pressure of justifying the ₹11.5 crore price tag.

Highest-paid Indian

For the record, he emerged as the highest-paid Indian cricketer for the second consecutive auction (he was bought for ₹8.4 crore by the same franchise this time around).

Cut to Saturday, the Saurashtra captain trained with his teammates at the Emerald Heights International School ground.

Not about money

Unadkat stressed that the price tag didn’t really affected him in the last IPL.

“The hype was so much more last year than this time around. I still feel it was never about the money factor that actually did anything to the game. Yes, I did expect a lot at times from myself at many times and it happens with everyone at some point,” Unadkat said ahead of Saurashtra’s crucial Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Group C game against Punjab on Sunday.

“But as you said, there’s no such baggage on my mind at the moment from what was there (last year). I am just in a happy space. I am enjoying the cricket that I am playing, I am loving the game I am playing and it’s all good when it comes off on the field.”

Not desperate

Despite emerging as one of the consistent pacers on the domestic circuit, playing a key role in Saurashtra’s surge to the Ranji Trophy final, Unadkat hasn’t really been considered for an India recall. However, the seasoned pacer is far from being desperate for it.

“Everyone is doing very well with the chances they are getting. If you see, it’s the best crop of pace bowlers we have had in the history of Test cricket, so it cannot get better in terms of competition,” Unadkat said.

“If I keep on playing the way I am playing at the moment, I definitely feel the time will come. I have been called up when I was doing well in the past and I still feel the time will come. I am going to wait for my time.”

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