IPL 2019 AUCTION

Price tag affects mentally: Unadkat

by Kabeer Khan • Last updated on

Just 11 wickets from 15 matches earlier this year was reason behind Royals not renewing his hefty contract. © Getty

Eleven months ago during the 2018 IPL auction, Jaydev Unadkat was picked up for a price tag of Rs. 11.5 crore by Rajasthan Royals. After failing to live up to the billing as the most expensive Indian player, the 27-year-old was released by RR.

On Tuesday, the left-arm medium pacer will once again go under the hammer with a base price of Rs 1.5 crores.

Just 11 wickets from 15 matches earlier this year was reason behind Royals not renewing his hefty contract. This was far from his tremendous feat from 2017 when he took 24 from 12 games for Rising Pune Supergiant.

"After the (IPL) season, my mind has only focused on being on the pitch and getting wickets. All the talks of the price tag do affect you mentally but I have played enough to not let it change my game. I knew that after the season that I would be criticised after IPL but I'm happy with the domestic season so far," he told TOI. "What is important is to get out of that mind frame after a bad season where you performances were nothing compared to what got you that price."

After the IPL, Unadkat has taken 20 wickets in 11 limited-overs matches and 16 wickets in 10 innings of the long format. "One tournament cannot define you as a player," he said. "The last IPL has helped me grow as a player and I am confident of doing well in the next IPL as well."

After his team clinched an outright win over Maharashtra on Monday, the Saurashtra players will have a day-off which also happens to be the day of the auction. "We will all be watching it. Personally, I will accept whatever comes my way," he said.

© TNN