MUMBAI: Ignored by the national selectors for yet another tour despite a stellar performance in the last edition of the Ranji Trophy, Saurashtra’s left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat has vowed that he “will keep fighting till the very end.” In a statement he put out on Twitter on Saturday, Unadkat asserted that the latest snub by the Chetan Sharma-led national selection committee — from the 20-member squad for the limited overs tour of Sri Lanka in July— was not going to put him down.
“At this point in my career, with all the useful experience that I’ve fortunately gathered, I’m only going to appreciate what comes my way and keep fighting till the very end.
(and that’s not gonna be soon, sure!).
Maybe that could be taken as being soft, but then, I’ll keep the ruthlessness and aggression for when I’m out there on the field,” stressed the seamer.
The Rajasthan Royals bowler asserted that he would not dwell much on why he wasn’t included yet again in the India squad despite a persistently good show.
“I found my passion when I was a kid, inspired by watching all the greats of the game play with all their heart on the field.
all these years later, I got to experience it myself.
And above everything else, that never say die attitude that I saw in them and nurtured inside myself, stayed with me! when I was young, some labelled me as a raw, erratic bowler, an over-dreaming bloke coming from a small town.
“Slowly, their perception changed.
and that’s cos I changed.
I matured.
the highs, the lows, the enormous joy, the extreme disappointment! Oh, what would I have been without sport.
this game has given me so much, and not for one moment, am I gonna repent on why not me, or when will my time come and what have I done wrong.
I have got my chances in the past & I will still get them.
It will be when it will be!,” he wrote.
Since he found his name missing from India’s 20-member touring party for England and then Sri Lanka, Unadkat — who finished the last edition of the Ranji Trophy as the highest wicket-taker with 67 scalps — has found tremendous support on social media, with former cricketers and fans sympathizing with him.
Unadkat ended his statement by revealing that he’s taking a break from social media.
“I am super grateful for your good wishes & support.
Time to focus on my next game.
and work even harder.
Until then, social media detox mode on,” concluded the 29-year-old.
Unadkat has played one Test, 7 ODIs and 10 T20Is for India picking 8 and 14 wickets in the limited-overs formats.
He last played for the country during the Nidahas Trophy in Sri Lanka in 2018 while his last Test and ODI appearances came in 2010 and 2013 respectively.
Former India batsman turned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar had remarked recently that Unadkat was unlucky to have missed out on a spot in the Indian team for the limited overs tour of Sri Lanka.
“I wonder whether they would have included Unadkat as a net bowler considering his experience and he’s an India player, a seasoned first-class bowler.
He’s unlucky to miss out.
When you look at the seam department, it’s not the strongest because the quality bowlers are playing Test cricket for India,” Manjrekar told ESPNCricinfo.