Currently, Indian fast bowler Jaydev Unadkat is participating in the ongoing County Championship as a member of the Sussex team, which is under the leadership of experienced Indian batsman Cheteshwar Pujara.
Following his omission from India’s ODI squad for the Asia Cup 2023, Jaydev Unadkat swiftly joined Sussex for his debut County Championship experience in England. This season, the Sussex team is led by his Saurashtra teammate, Cheteshwar Pujara.
Jaydev Unadkat had participated in both the Test and ODI series for India against West Indies before his stint with Sussex. With a substantial background of 103 first-class matches, he had amassed an impressive tally of 382 wickets, boasting a remarkable average of 22.
Notably, he led Saurashtra to their inaugural Ranji Trophy victory in 2020, spearheading the team with a remarkable 67 wickets in that season – the highest ever recorded by a fast bowler in a single Ranji season.
Unadkat’s initial outing with Sussex had a modest start, as he secured just one wicket on his County debut against Durham. However, in the subsequent match, he displayed his prowess and finesse, returning with figures of 3/23 and 6/94 against Leicestershire. This stellar performance propelled Sussex to a thrilling 15-run victory.
Facing a daunting target of 499 runs, Leicestershire made steady progress, with contributions from Colin Ackermann, Umar Amin, Ben Cox, and Tom Scriven. Sussex then turned to the seasoned Jaydev Unadkat, who bowled extended spells, tallying a total of 32.4 overs in that innings to capture six wickets.
Commencing with an early wicket using the new ball, the left-arm pacer dismantled the middle-order and the tail, ultimately clinching a hard-fought triumph for Sussex by a mere 15 runs.
A special shout out to @JUnadkat, what a performance! 💫 pic.twitter.com/r2bCvshv8D
— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) September 13, 2023
As the Sussex players exited the field, Jaydev Unadkat received a standing ovation from his teammates and the support staff, proudly raising the ball high in acknowledgment of the applause.
