Jaydev Unadkat's Name Is Not Even Considered In Selection Process: Former India Selector

Jaydev Unadkat, 29, has been one of the best domestic fast bowlers currently and has done enough to tap the shoulders of selectors for an India call-up. 

The left-armer was, at one time, considered one of the top upcoming talents who could play for India and he even made his test debut in 2010 as a 20-year-old. However, Unadkat only played one match before going back to play domestic cricket to improve as a fast bowler. 

Unadkat, since then, has been an undisputed king of Domestic cricket where he has taken 327 first-class wickets in 89 matches. His best Ranji Trophy season was in 2019-20 where he was the highest wicket-taker with 67 and led Saurashtra to a title win. 

During the prolific season of the 28-year-old Unadkat in 2019-20, Saurashtra coach and former India pace bowler Karsan Ghavri asked an India selector why the left-armer doesn't get picked. 

"I asked a selector during the Ranji Trophy Final(2019-20) that if a bowler takes more than 60 wickets and has taken his team into the final of Ranji Trophy single-handedly, shouldn't he be at least picked for India 'A'. That selector told me: 'Kadu Bhai, he won't be picked for India anymore. His name is not even considered by us when we think 30-odd players," Ghavri said as quoted by Times of India. 

When the Saurashtra coach asked the selector why isn't Unadkat considered during the selection process, the selector said: "He's already 32-33. Age is spoiling his case. It has put a full stop to his India career."

"Why should we invest in an older player? We would rather pick a 21, 22, or a 23-year-old player if he's good, he can serve India for 8-10-12 years. If we pick Unadkat today, how many years will he serve India for?," the selector told Ghavri. 

Incidentally, in a recent interview, Jaydev Unadkat told that he is currently in his prime and a good headspace to play. 

“I will be biased if I talk about my selection (non-selection in this case). I genuinely believe that I am in a phase of my career where the next three, four years I will be at my prime,” Unadkat told PTI.

“I’ve been taking those wickets as well, it actually proves the fact that I am in a good space and I’m finding ways to get people out on different tracks in different conditions. And because of that, I do believe that my time will come."