Released by his IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL 2020 auction, Saurashtra’s captain Jaydev Unadkat came up with a scintillating performance as he scalped nine wickets to put his team on the brink of a win in the first round of Ranji Trophy 2019/20. Asked to bowl first, Unadkat scalped three wickets in the first innings to dismiss home team Himachal Pradesh for 120. In reply, Saurashtra scored 141.
Unadkat spearheaded the pace attack again and snared a six-for to bundle out HP for 182 in their second innings, thus ensuring that Saurashtra are asked to chase a low target of 162.
At stumps on day 2, the visitors were three own for 96. They are still 66 runs away from the target and are expected to win and bag those six points. Experienced batsmen Cheteshwar Pujara and Sheldon Jackson are yet to come out to bat.
With a six-for, Unadkat sent a timely reminder to IPL franchises and it’s no doubt that he will bag a big amount in IPL 2020 auction as well.
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Unadkat hogged the limelight in IPL 2018 auction when Rajasthan Royals bought him for Rs 11.5 Crore. He scalped 11 wickets in 15 matches and was released. Next year, RR again bid for him and bought him for Rs 8.4 Crore to make him highest gainer in the auction, along with Kings XI Punjab’s Varun Chakravarthy. Following another below-par performance, the franchise released him.
This year, again, Unadkat is expected to go for a big amount but Rajasthan Royals might not bid for him. Chennai Super Kings have been chasing Unadkat and might have the final say this time. In 73 IPL matches, he has 77 wickets.
The IPL auction for the next season of the T20 league takes place on December 19 in Kolkata.