The 32-year-old Indian left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat has signed a multi-year extended contract with the English County team Sussex. 

Jaydev Unadkat started to play for Sussex in 2023, where the left-arm pacer took 11 wickets in three County Championship matches. Later, in the 2024 season, while Sussex won the Division Two title, Unadkat picked up 22 wickets in five matches with an average of 14.40. In the latest County Championship season, Unadkat ended with the best bowling average for his team. 

Good Old Sussex by The Sea has my heart: Jaydev Unadkat

Now, Unadkat has signed a two-year contract with Sussex. It means that the left-arm pacer will serve Sussex in the 2025 and 2026 County Championship seasons. 

In the official statement, Undakat said, "When I came to Hove last year, I wasn't sure what was on offer in the County Championship and how would I adapt to it. But after a few games now, I can definitely say Hove is my home away from home and Good Old Sussex by The Sea has my heart.”

One of the most popular and nicest guys any team could wish for: Sussex head coach

Meanwhile, Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace is excited with this contract extension news.  

Farbrace said, "Everyone at Hove is very pleased and excited that Jaydev [Unadkat] has signed a two-year extension and will be returning to the Club for the next two seasons. 

"Jaydev's quality on the pitch has been so evident for everyone else to see, but just as importantly his qualities as a person make him one of the most popular and nicest guys any team could wish for."

Undakat is currently busy in the Ranji Trophy where he is leading Saurashtra. 

SEE ALSO: England vs India 2025 Test schedule announced

India will tour England in the 2025 summer

While Unadkat is ready to return to Sussex for the next season, India will interestingly tour England in the 2025 summer for a five-match Test series. If the team India suffers any injury issue in the pace bowling line-up, Unadkat can be a good option. 

Unadkat made his international cricket debut in 2010 and has played four Tests, eight ODIs, and ten T20Is to pick up three, nine, and 14 wickets, respectively. 

During India's tour of the West Indies and the United States in 2023, Unadkat played his last Test and ODI matches. His last T20I was the Nidahas Trophy 2018 Final.

In his first-class cricket career, Unadkat has taken 425 wickets in 119 matches. He has also picked up 179 List A wickets and 226 T20 wickets in 124 and 191 matches, respectively.  

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) won a big match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. They won by six wickets in an exciting game.

After the match, SRH player Jaydev Unadkat talked about their plan. He said being unpredictable in bowling is important. Unadkat also mentioned how they adjusted to the pitch conditions which helped them win.

“I think from what we have seen so far both the wickets where the slow balls were sticking into the pitch and It’s about adapting to the conditions. I think the conditions were suitable for those sorts of deliveries… as a bowler, you have got to be unpredictable in terms of lines and pace,” he said after the match.

SRH holds the hand of strategic decision

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) made a strategic decision to bowl first after winning the toss. Despite Chennai Super Kings (CSK) getting off to a strong start with their batting, SRH managed to turn the tide by taking some crucial wickets. This restricted CSK to a total of 165/5 runs, a commendable effort considering the initial momentum CSK had gained.

When it was SRH’s turn to bat, they started their innings confidently, thanks to a solid partnership between Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma. Both batsmen played aggressively, scoring runs at a brisk pace and setting the foundation for SRH’s chase. Additionally, Aiden Markram’s brilliant innings further bolstered SRH’s position, ensuring they chased down the target comfortably and secured the victory with ease.

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The partnership is on point

This crucial win has propelled Sunrisers Hyderabad to the fifth position in the IPL 2024 rankings. With two wins out of four matches played so far, SRH is steadily climbing up the ladder. On the other hand, Chennai Super Kings remains in the third position, primarily due to their superior run rate despite facing defeat in this particular match.

“In the bowling we felt it’s a bit slow wicket. We knew if we take the powerplay on, we can go with the flow after that. We had a chance to prepare well before this IPL. Big scores do matter (individual scores), but I went with the flow today. Special thanks to Yuvi paaji, Brian Lara and my dad for this,” Abhishek said.

Left-arm fast bowler Jaydev Unadkat has been added to the Indian Test squad for the two-match series against Bangladesh. Unadkat, who powered Saurashtra to the Vijay Hazare Trophy triumph recently, has been called up as a replacement for Mohammed Shami – ruled out of the series due to a bowling arm stress. Unadkat’s only appearance so far in the longest format was almost exactly 12 years ago, as a teenager straight out of India Under 19 side, in the first Test of the 2010-11 tour of South Africa. In that Test, in Centurion, he finished with figures of none for 101 as India lost by an innings and 25 runs.

Meanwhile, there are chances of regular skipper Rohit Sharma joining the squad ahead of second Test (December 22-26). He suffered a ‘blow on his left thumb’ during the second ODI in Dhaka on December 7. In the first Test (December 14-18), KL Rahul will be leading the side. Abhimanyu Easwaran, who led India A in the two-match series against Bangladesh. Has been named as a cover for Rohit in the first Test. Unadkat is the second player set to join India’s Test squad in Bangladesh as an injury replacement. On Friday evening, Abhimanyu Easwaran, the Bengal player who led India A to a 1-0 win in the four-day series against Bangladesh A on a shadow tour.

Also Read: Mehidy Hasan Miraj Transforms From Bowler to All-Rounder

Unadkat replaces Shami for Tests in Bangladesh

Was called-up as cover for Rohit Sharma, who has flown home to Mumbai to nurse a finger injury he picked up during the ODI series. Left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar is also in line to replace Ravindra Jadeja. Saurabh finished the ‘A’ tour with a haul of 15 wickets across two red-ball matches. Over the past five years, Unadkat has built up an impressive body of work with Saurashtra. The team he has led to a wave of success in the Indian domestic circuit. He was front and centre during their first Ranji Trophy title win in 2019-20, picking up 67 wickets. The second-highest haul by a bowler in a season. Over the last three Ranji seasons, Unadkat has picked up 115 wickets in 21 matches.

If you love the way you play the game, all other things will fall in place. I love this space and the mindset I’m currently in and don’t want to change that for anything. But the hunger and fire to play and perform for the country is still burning bright.” Ahead of the Vijay Hazare Trophy final, Unadkat reiterated that “the hunger and fire to play and perform for the country is still burning bright”. Unadkat led Saurashtra to the title, finishing as the tournament’s highest wicket-taker with 19 wickets in ten games.

Sam Curran, who was the player in the final and the tournament at the 2022 World Cup. Is among 21 men who have listed the maximum reserve price of INR 2 crore for the 2023 IPL auction. Australian allrounder Cameron Green, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson and Nicholas Pooran. Who stepped down recently as West Indies white-ball captain. Overseas allrouders have always been a mega hit at mini auctions and the in-form trio of Curran, Stokes and Green will fancy a fat pay cheque as an early Christmas present on December 23. While Green has never featured in IPL, the England duo have significant experience.

A total of 991 players (714 Indian and 277 overseas) are part of the initial long list. Which the IPL shared with the 10 franchises on Thursday. The IPL will prune this down based on input from the franchises. Who have until December 9 to get back to the tournament authorities. Green turned a lot of heads during Australia’s white-ball series in India just before the T20 World Cup where he scored 118 runs at a strike rate of 214.54 while opening the batting. Coupled with his bowling the 23-year old could prove to be a big asset in T20 cricket.

Also Read: Tamim Iqbal out of Bangladesh’s ODI series against India, in doubt for Tests

Rahane, Ishant, Mayank, and more are ready to get picked by teams this auction

The list of 19 capped Indians mainly comprises discarded national players including Ajinkya Rahane, Ishant Sharma and Mayank Agarwal. Ishant, who had gone unsold in 2022, is asking for 75 lakh. Agarwal has listed his base price at 1 crore. Left-arm fast bowler Unadkat, who has been among the highest-paid players at IPL auctions, has listed his base price at 50 lakh. Unadkat, having led Saurashtra to the Vijay Hazare Trophy final.

The 1 crore band: Mayank Agarwal, Kedar Jadhav, Manish Pandey, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Moises Henriques, Andrew Tye, Joe Root, Luke Wood, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Martin Guptill, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Heinrich Klaasen, Tabraiz Shamsi, Kusal Perera, Roston Chase, Rakheem Cornwall, Shai Hope, Akeal Hossein, David Wiese

Injuries have left India with a smaller group of players to choose from.

With Mohammad Shami’s latest injury, Mohammad Siraj was handed a Test debut.

Playing his first Test, Mohammad Siraj went against common trends and made an excellent debut.

He took wickets and maintained the pressure built by the senior bowlers.

As a bowler, he was put into more challenging situations as the Test went on, taking the second pacer’s role after Umesh Yadav left the field.

Mohammad Siraj’s successful debut is contrary to what many bowlers faced over the last decade, making their debut overseas.

Below are a few players who have been handed overseas debuts.

Handing an overseas debut has had various effects on players, with only one player finding Test success so far.

Karn Sharma:

Karn Sharma has immense domestic Cricket and IPL experience.

He has been around for a considerable period and is a prominent figure in the IPL.

One of the latest overseas debutants, Karn Sharma, made his debut at Adelaide in 2014.

It was the first Test of the series, and Virat Kohli was the stand-in captain for the Test.

Karn Sharma’s selection was a brave decision, as he was picked over Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.

The leg-spinner picked up four wickets, which involved two scalps of David Warner, but went for 238 runs at a high economy.

The Test was his only international game in any format, and he has been overlooked ever since.

Pankaj Singh:

Pankaj Singh is another domestic giant who toiled hard before getting a chance with the national side.

He went on numerous tours with India A and was on the fringes of the Indian team.

He made the Indian squad for a couple of tours as a back-up option but only got an opportunity during a Test series in England.

With Ishant Sharma injured, Pankaj Singh made his Test debut in Southampton.

With catches dropped off his bowling and some good batting, Pankaj Singh went wicketless on his Test debut.

He created a record for the most expensive figures by a debutant without a wicket.

Despite the poor showing, Pankaj Singh played the next Test and took two wickets.

He couldn’t do enough as he was out of the squad shortly after Ishant Sharma’s return.

He played one ODI and two Tests.

Jaydev Unadkat:

One of the younger members on this list, Jaydev Unadkat, made his debut at Centurion at 19.

He came in after an injury to Zaheer Khan but went wicketless in Centurion.

With no wickets and injuries and stiff competition, Jaydev Unadkat could not find a place in the Test side after a solitary Test.

His left-arm variety is a point to consider, but with other bowlers’ fitness and presence, his return has been difficult.

With some good domestic performances, Jaydev Unadkat has still managed to play for India in the shorter formats.

His last appearance came in 2018, against Bangladesh.

Vinay Kumar:

Former Karnataka pacer Vinay Kumar received a call-up for the Australian tour in 2011.

He made his debut in the third Test of the series and took one wicket in India’s only bowling innings.

He found a spot in the eleven as India went with four pacers but was left out when Ashwin returned to the side.

Not the fastest of bowlers, Vinay Kumar has a handy bag of tricks and was useful in the limited-overs formats.

The Perth Test was his last, but he managed to play thirty-one ODIs and nine T20s.

Praveen Kumar:

Praveen Kumar had an excellent career in one-day Cricket and was a very talented player.

Like Vinay Kumar, Praveen Kumar wasn’t the fastest, but he could swing the ball beautifully and was very accurate.

A regular member of the Indian side, Praveen Kumar was part of some famous Limited-Overs wins and had a fair share of injuries.

He made his Test debut in 2011 against West Indies at Kingston.

Unlike the other bowlers on the list, Praveen Kumar was successful in the six Tests he played.

He did an excellent job in the West Indies and England, averaging 25.81.

He started with a lot of promise, but injuries restricted his career to just six Tests.

He played his last Test on the same year he made his Test debut, and his limited-overs career met its end a year later.

Stuart Binny:

Indian all-rounder Stuart Binny made his Test debut at Nottingham in 2014.

His all-around ability looked promising, and he proved his bowling abilities in limited-overs Cricket before his Test debut.

His ability to swing the ball was talked about.

He made the headlines with his limited-overs performances as well, with a notable six-wicket haul against Bangladesh.

Despite all the noise around Binny, the all-rounder only played six Tests, taking three wickets and scoring 194 runs.

He had a brief limited-overs career as well and last played for India in 2016.

Jasprit Bumrah:

Jasprit Bumrah is the latest bowler to make a Test debut overseas, before Mohammad Siraj.

By the time Bumrah started his Test career, he had named himself in limited-overs Cricket.

A successful Test debut in South Africa saw him become a crucial bowler for India across formats.

He has done an excellent job so far and is yet to play a Test in India, with all sixteen Tests coming outside the subcontinent.