Overview
Jaydev Unadkat is an Indian cricketer who plays as a left-arm fast-medium bowler. A long-serving member of the Saurashtra cricket team in domestic competition, he has captained the side to Ranji Trophy success and has represented India in Test, One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I) cricket. He has also been a regular in the Indian Premier League (IPL) since 2010.
Key facts
| Full name | Jaydev Dipakbhai Unadkat |
|---|---|
| Born | 18 October 1991, Porbandar, Gujarat, India |
| Batting | Right-handed |
| Bowling | Left-arm fast-medium |
| Domestic team | Saurashtra |
| Role | Bowler; captain of Saurashtra |
| Formats | Test, ODI, T20I, first-class, List A, T20 |
Background
Born in Porbandar in coastal Gujarat, Unadkat moved through age-group cricket in Saurashtra before breaking into the senior side as a teenager. He represented India at the Under-19 level and was part of the Indian team at the 2010 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup.
Domestic career
Unadkat made his first-class debut for Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy and steadily developed into the spearhead of the side's pace attack. Operating with the new ball and able to swing the ball back into right-handers, he became one of the most prolific left-arm seamers in Indian domestic cricket.
He led Saurashtra to their maiden Ranji Trophy title in the 2019–20 season, defeating Bengal in the final played at Rajkot. Under his captaincy, Saurashtra won the Ranji Trophy again in the 2022–23 season, with Unadkat being a leading wicket-taker through the campaign. He has consistently featured among the top wicket-takers in the Ranji Trophy across multiple seasons and has also been a key performer in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
International career
Unadkat made his Test debut for India in December 2010 against South Africa at Centurion, becoming, at the time, one of the youngest Indian fast bowlers to play Test cricket. After a long gap, he returned to international cricket later in the decade, making his ODI debut and T20I debut against Zimbabwe in 2013.
He was recalled to the Test squad in 2022 and played further Tests for India, including matches against Bangladesh, marking a comeback more than a decade after his debut. He has also featured in white-ball series for India in the period between his Test appearances.
Indian Premier League
Unadkat made his IPL debut for the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2010. Over subsequent seasons he has represented several franchises, including Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Daredevils, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rising Pune Supergiant, Rajasthan Royals, Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants. His performances for Rising Pune Supergiant in IPL 2017, where he was among the leading wicket-takers, drew significant attention and led to record bids for him in subsequent IPL auctions.
Style and significance
Unadkat is known for swinging the new ball, varying his pace, and using cutters and yorkers in the death overs of limited-overs cricket. As a left-arm seamer, he provides an angle of attack that is relatively rare in Indian cricket, which has contributed to his continued selection across formats. His captaincy has been credited with transforming Saurashtra into one of the strongest sides in Indian domestic cricket, alongside senior batters such as Cheteshwar Pujara.
Related topics
- Saurashtra cricket team
- Ranji Trophy
- Indian Premier League
- India national cricket team
- Cheteshwar Pujara
- Porbandar
References
- Wikidata entry: Q6167758
- Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) domestic records
- International Cricket Council (ICC) player records