I am a lot more mature than when I made my debut: Jaydev Unadkat

How do you look back at this season after missing out almost the whole of last season due to injury?
The season was fantastic for us (Saurashtra) as a team and myself as an individual. The fact that I have done really well in the quarterfinals and semifinals has given me a lot of confidence. Yes, I was injured for most part of last season. I did not play for most of the games. It was crucial for me to come back this season and do well and make my mark again. I am happy that I have done that and probably that is what my team demanded at those crucial junctures and those matches. I am happy I did it.

You did not have much part to play at the start of the season, with Ravindra Jadeja taking a lot of wickets. Did you realise your role would be vital in the latter part?
That was what was in my mind going into those (first) three matches. My role was more of a batsman rather than bowling. I bowled 20 overs in all in those three games. It was difficult for me. It does not happen regularly to a strike bowler. I took it as a blessing in a way and started focussing on my batting. It has really helped me this season. That (batting) is something I realised I can really progress in my career. In the latter part (of the season) as well, it was going on in my mind that my time will come, I will have matches where my role will be crucial and I will take my team through. That gave me added motivation. Í had limited opportunities when we played matches outside Rajkot. I had to press myself and do really well.

Where do you see yourself at the moment in your career?
I have played for India in the past in one Test (vs South Africa in Centurion, 2010-11) and seven ODIs (July-November 2013). I have been talking to Cheteshwar (Pujara) as well regarding that. I know what it takes to play at the highest level. It is about putting in those extra yards in the nets and training that can help me better with the competition that we have. Regarding my career, I have designed a path for myself and am going on the right track. I had certain goals for this season and have almost achieved them. If it continues to go like this, I would say it won't be difficult for me to come back again and do well for the country.

Can you elaborate on the goals that you have set for yourself?
It is about setting smaller goals for myself. Everyone wants to play for India. Even I want to play for the country in all the formats. For that, you need some extra abilities that can take you above others in this competition. Those smaller goals include some technical aspects. When I need to change something in my bowling, that becomes a goal for me and I start working on that. When I am getting the ball to swing in well, I will say 'I will work on getting the outswing well'. That becomes another smaller goal. When I feel low on strength, I start building up my strength and say 'I need some more strength going into this season'. That again becomes a goal for four-six weeks. Those are the goals that I keep setting for myself and keep working on them that eventually helps me perform when required.

Have you given yourself any time frame before you feel you are ready for national comeback?
Not in particular. When I had the injury last year, I gave myself 18 to 20 months to return to my best. That is probably another 12 months from now. The way things are going, I would say the next two to four months, I will again work harder, raise my level and come back stronger.

When you played that Centurion Test, were you prepared for the highest level?
I was prepared. I went to Sri Lanka as a net bowler before that. All the seniors in the team were impressed and told me 'you will get your chance soon, so be ready for it'. It was in the back of my mind that I will get a chance sooner than later. The fact that I was young and playing a lot of cricket at that time in that year, probably, did not allow me to perform to the potential that I had. I was a bit low on strength that time, because of which I was unable to deliver like I was bowling in the India 'A' tours and the Under-19s as well. But that gave me an idea about how I should prepare for the coming years and that's what I have done at present. I feel a lot more confident and a lot more mature after that.

What has been Zaheer Khan's influence on you?
He is a bowler who played the whole of his career with intelligence. He has probably been the most intelligent cricketer I have ever talked to or met. Yes, I have gained a lot of experience just by watching him on TV and when I worked with him in nets together for Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Daredevils. He had a lot of injuries in his career, so our discussions would also revolve around how to come out of those periods, how to get back to your best and at times when you are feeling down on confidence, or when you are not getting the rhythm, how to come out of it. Those small drills, what he thought about going into those crucial matches and at times when he was coming back from injuries, those are something I picked up from him. It will help me throughout my career.

Have you thought about the prospect of bowling in tandem with India's latest find, Jasprit Bumrah?
For me, as of now, I have designed a path for myself. If I continue to work on those small goals, I would be doing whatever my team demands from me, to take wickets at crucial times, to bowl in consistent areas at consistent pace and stuff like that. Once you get in the reckoning, the strategy comes into place. But, till the time that I am working to get back, I would like to just focus on the processes and not think about long terms or higher goals. The process is something that has got me into the reckoning again. I am in a very good rhythm at the moment. I am getting the ball to do whatever I want. It is probably really important for me as a bowler and the confidence I have at the present. I would like to focus on taking wickets, take one match at a time rather than looking at longer run. Once I get this opportunity, I am sure I am going to make it count this time and do well for the country.

It is often said it's easier to debut for the country than make a comeback. Your thoughts?
I have not really thought about how difficult it is to make a comeback. But I'd say I am enjoying what I am doing at present, enjoying playing for my state. I am at a phase where I am enjoying my cricket and doing well for my team, whichever team I am playing for. This is perhaps the happier times that I am passing through.

You look fitter and stronger than ever. Are you big time into gym?
I do a lot of gym. That is something I worked on in the last two-three years. I was leaner, thinner than a fast bowler is required to be. I wanted to become stronger and bulkier. From among the cricketers I have met, and from among all my teammates, I am probably the one who does most gym and training sessions.

Being stronger would also mean bowling faster. How can you control pace?
Rather than controlling, you should have the ability first to bowl fast. I am not saying I should bowl 140-145 kmph, I am saying I should be able to bowl fast at a consistent pace. It has happened when I was not able to bowl 140 kmph consistently. Once I get strength, I would be able to do it consistently, which is really important. If you can bowl with consistent pace throughout the day and in all the spells, that will be good. That is what is in my mind when I work for my strength, to bowl with uniform pace throughout. That was missing when I played for India earlier.

UNADKAT THIS RANJI SEASON
Mat: 11
Wkts: 40
Best: 6/77
Avg: 20.12
SR: 37.7
Econ: 3.20
10w/5w: 1/4

DID YOU KNOW?
Jaydev Unadkat took 24 wickets in the three Ranji Trophy knockout games this season (5/70 & 4/35 vs Vidarbha in quarterfinals, 6/77 & 5/45 vs Assam in semifinals and 4/118 vs Mumbai in final)

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