While Prithvi Shaw’s County season has been cut short due to injury, Jaydev Unadkat will be lining up for Sussex.
The left-arm bowler will join his Saurashtra teammate Cheteshwar Pujara at the club for three games in the County Championship in September (against Durham from September 6-9, Leicestershire from September 10-13 and Derbyshire from September 19-22).
“Jaydev will be available for selection for the games against Durham, Leicestershire and Derbyshire as Sussex look to secure promotion to the first division,” Sussex said in a release.
Unadkat, who was on India’s Test tour of the West Indies, will get his first taste of County cricket, whereas Pujara has captained Sussex in the previous season.
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"The English County Championship has a wonderful legacy, and I was keen to grab the opportunity whenever I can and it seems to be the right time for me at this point in my career,” said Unadkat.
"I hope to add to the laurels that my dear friend and teammate, Cheteshwar, has been adding aplenty while representing Sussex for the last couple of seasons, and more importantly helping the team win games.”
But this also means that Unadkat is not in the reckoning for the Asia Cup, which will be played from August 30 to September 17.
Red ball cricket is seen as Unadkat’s forte and he has expressed it many times when he has played domestic cricket or Test cricket. But whatever the category or format, he believes in giving it his all.
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“I have made a point that whenever I play any game, be it for Saurashtra or for an IPL team, the level of commitment should be not less than 110%. I have been strict on myself on that,” he once said in an interview.
Last December, Unadkat was ecstatic after getting a Test recall after 12 years. He spoke of the boost he got from the encouragement he received from the greats, including India coach Rahul Dravid. And after the match, which was against Bangladesh, he went back to play Ranji Trophy for Saurashtra.
The County experience will be another feather in his cap.
