Ravichandran Ashwin lavishes praise on Jaydev Unadkat after latter's Test comeback

India's veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin reckons that left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat's majestic comeback in the recently concluded Bangladesh Test series was a result of his consistently brilliant performances in India's domestic circuit.

Unadkat made a comeback to the red-ball side against Bangladesh after 12 years as he last represented the side in 2010 against South Africa. He performed well in India's three-wicket victory in Mirpur as he picked a total of three wickets. Ashwin on his YouTube channel showered praise on the Saurashtra pacer.

"He posed with the trophy and I told him you could lift this trophy because of the other trophy (Ranji trophy) that you lifted. You completely deserve for all what you have done for Saurashtra cricket. He bowled like an experienced pro and it is not easy. Everyone will have white ball memory and how well he didn't bowl for Rajasthan and so on. But go and see his red ball numbers,” said Ashwin.

Unadkat led Saurashtra to the Ranji Trophy title in 2020 while bagging 67 wickets - most in the tournament during that season. Furthermore, he was also the highest wicket-taker in the 2022-23 season of the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) with 19 wickets across ten matches. 

He has been a torchbearer of Saurashtra cricket: Ravichandran Ashwin

Ashwin further added that the pacer has been a ‘torchbearer’ of Saurashtra for the performances he has displayed in recent times.

"He has been a torchbearer of Saurashtra cricket. If Saurashtra is a powerhouse in domestic cricket, it is because of Jaydev. He was not out in the first innings and second innings I had a feeling he would be not out and hit winning runs,” he added.

“In India if there is a hot selling topic, everyone will have a say about that. They forget other people's struggle. But how well did Unadkat bowl in this Test match? It's not easy guys. We should take a closer look at our domestic cricket. IPL is changing lives and it takes centre stage as it is bread and butter,” Ashwin concluded.