He waited, he worked, and then he made history. This is the story of a Test comeback that’ll make you stop and say, “Wait, how long was that?!”
Okay, let’s speak about something absolutely insane as we prepare for the next India versus Bangladesh Test series, which begins on September 19th. India is hoping for a clean sweep to consolidate their place in the World Test Championship, while Bangladesh will be looking to trigger significant surprises. But, although we’re enthusiastic about what’s to come, here’s a little trivia you definitely didn’t expect.
Bangladesh will be meeting India next after sweeping Pakistan 2-0 away from home 🤜🤛
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) September 15, 2024
What do you expect from Gautam Gambhir in his first Test assignment as head coach? 🤔 https://t.co/WW0fOo59tX #INDvBAN #PAKvBAN pic.twitter.com/s02B58Widw
Consider this: you make your Test debut, you’re young and full of promise, but things don’t go as expected. Then you wait. And you wait. And then you wait some more. How long may you be ready for a second chance? A bowler waited 12 years to make his second debut for the Indian Test team!
So, in 2010, this bowler made his Test debut against South Africa. He was young, fresh-faced, and eager to make his mark. But sometimes life (or cricket) has different plans. His debut was hardly a fairytale—no wickets, no spectacular numbers, just the experience of playing in the major leagues. And after that? Silence. He was not selected for another Test match for more than a decade.
Welcome back to Test cricket Gareth Batty! He has the record for largest gap between Tests played, his last was in 2005! #howzstat #BanvEng pic.twitter.com/nuXdgHvjcX
— ICC (@ICC) October 21, 2016
When this bowler was eventually called up to face Bangladesh in December 2022, it was more than simply a return; it was historic. He beat Dinesh Karthik’s record for the greatest time between Test appearances by an Indian player, which stood at 87 tests. This bowler missed 118 Tests between his first and second outings! To put things in perspective, England’s Gareth Batty owns the world record for missing 142 Tests, but this Indian bowler came close.
So, who is this mysterious bowler making all the headlines?
Yes, that’s Jaydev Unadkat. You would recognise him as the Saurashtra skipper who has been crushing it in domestic cricket. He guided his side to a Ranji Trophy victory in the 2019/20 season, taking 67 wickets along the road. And it was his outstanding performance that won him a return to the national team after more than a decade away.
Jaydev Unadkat on his comeback Test match:
— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) December 25, 2022
•16-2-50-2 & 14*(32).
•9-3-17-1 & 13(16).
He is brilliant in his comeback test match for India. Well played, Jaydev!! pic.twitter.com/8qXTJABwBS
When Unadkat hit the pitch in Dhaka in 2022, he bowled like he had something to prove. And he proved it. He grabbed critical wickets in the match and, more crucially, demonstrated to the world that tenacity pays off.
Jaydev Unadkat’s career has been quite the rollercoaster. Following his 2010 Test debut, he was in and out of India’s white-ball teams, making his ODI debut in 2013 and his T20I debut in 2016. However, nothing appeared to stick. His international cricket exploits were adequate but insufficient to gain a permanent position. Here is a glimpse of his international statistics.
Test Matches: 4
ODIs: 8
T20Is: 10
But Unadkat has genuinely excelled in domestic cricket. With nearly 400 first-class wickets to his record, he has played an essential role in Saurashtra’s ascent in Indian domestic cricket. His leadership and ability to perform when it matters have helped him become a domestic legend.
Let’s focus on the second Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka, where Unadkat returned. India had previously won the first match decisively, with 188 runs at Chattogram. However, the second Test was far more closely contested. Bangladesh gave India a significant fright, with bowler Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s five-wicket haul leaving India on 74 for 7, chasing 145.
But then came R Ashwin and Shreyas Iyer, who held their nerve to lead India home with a three-wicket victory. While Unadkat’s numbers (3 wickets in two innings) were not spectacular, his very participation in that game was significant, demonstrating the power of patience and strenuous effort.