Jaydev Unadkat Debut, Biography, Stats, Net Worth, Wife, IPL Team, Records, Career
Jaydev Deepakbhai Unadkat, born on 18 October 1991. Raised in Porbandar, Gujarat, he is an Indian cricketer known for his tall build (6’3″), left-arm medium-pace bowling and right-handed batting. Over the years, he has built a reputation, especially in local red-ball cricket and the IPL. Unadkat’s journey began in Porbandar, where he was spotted by coach Ram Odedra during his formative years. He first caught the eye in the 2010 Under-19 World Cup and soon made waves in Test cricket: on 16 December 2010, his ODI debut took place on 24 July 2013. Despite these early setbacks, Unadkat’s path was not a linear climb. There were ups and downs in form and for places. He faced challenges such as fierce competition. He once commented that his inclusion in the national team after many years felt like a “second debut”.
Career Highlights And Teams
Unadkat has represented various teams His career Past career:
- Domestic: Mainly for Saurashtra in India.
- International: India (Test, ODI, T20I) though occasionally.
IPL Teams:
- Kolkata Knight Riders (2010–12, 2016)
- Royal Challengers Bangalore (2013)
- Delhi Daredevils (2014–15)
- Rising Pune Supergiants (2017)
- Rajasthan Royals (2018–21)
- Mumbai Indians (2022)
- Lucknow Supergiants (2023)
- Sunrisers Hyderabad (2024)
Some Important Career Highlights Moments:
- In the 2017 IPL for Rising Pune Supergiants, he took 24 wickets in 12 matches and played a vital role in the team reaching the final Played.
- In the 2019–20 Ranji Trophy, he was the leading wicket-taker with 67 wickets in ten matches. Matches.
- After a brief hiatus of nearly 12 years from Test cricket, he returned to the red-ball Indian team in December 2022.
Stats & Records
Bowling Career
| Format | Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 4 | 7 | 474 | 231 | 3 | 2/50 | 3/67 | 77.00 | 2.92 | 158.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ODIs | 8 | 8 | 342 | 225 | 9 | 4/41 | 4/41 | 25.00 | 3.94 | 38.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| T20Is | 10 | 10 | 208 | 301 | 14 | 3/38 | 3/38 | 21.50 | 8.68 | 14.8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| First-Class (FC) | 131 | 227 | 21,650 | 10,720 | 466 | 8/39 | 13/103 | 23.00 | 2.97 | 46.4 | 22 | 24 | 5 |
| List A | 130 | 130 | 6,812 | 5,385 | 185 | 5/23 | 5/23 | 29.10 | 4.74 | 36.8 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| T20s | 206 | 205 | 4,375 | 5,834 | 245 | 5/25 | 5/25 | 23.81 | 8.00 | 17.8 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
Batting & Fielding
| Format | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s | Ct | St |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 4 | 5 | 2 | 36 | 14* | 12.00 | 89 | 40.44 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| ODIs | 8 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 0 |
| T20Is | 10 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 3 | 0 |
| First-Class (FC) | 131 | 167 | 37 | 2,144 | 92 | 16.49 | 4,204 | 50.99 | 0 | 8 | 217 | 43 | 54 | 0 |
| List A | 130 | 69 | 14 | 643 | 57 | 11.69 | 819 | 78.51 | 0 | 1 | 52 | 20 | 33 | 0 |
| T20s | 206 | 77 | 41 | 562 | 58* | 15.61 | 432 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Some notable IPL/record moments:
- He became the most expensive Indian player in the 2018 IPL auction, being bought by Rajasthan Royals for Rs 11.5 crore.
- He achieved a rare feat: a triple-wicket maiden in the 20th over in the IPL (2017).
- He holds the record of being bought 13 times in the IPL auction as of 2025 (the most by any player).
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Net Worth
His financial journey reflects the value placed on his experience, especially in the IPL. Some stats:
- Estimated net worth (2025) around ₹40 crore (US$5 million).
- Highest IPL contract: Rs. 11.5 crore in the 2018 auction.
- Year-to-year auction prices: For example, Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2024 for Rs. 1.6 crore. He has accepted the psychological pressure of being a high-priced acquisition.
Unadkat’s financial success shows how domestic and IPL can be made compatible in terms of earnings.
Personal Life And Off-Field
Unadkat is married to Rini Kantaria and recently welcomed their first child, Atharva, in May 2025. He has spoken about how becoming a father has changed his outlook and how the support of his family has been important in his journey.
He has also emphasised attitude, perseverance and continuous improvement as the focal points of his career. In an interview, he said that his decision was not just to be happy with the comeback but to make a meaningful contribution to the team.
Challenges And Unfulfilled Potential
While Unadkat’s domestic record is different, his international career has been sporadic. Some of the key points:
- He had to wait 12 years between his first and second Test matches.
- In the IPL, when he was at his peak (2017), he also went through periods of weakness, for example after paying a heavy price in 2018, his performances declined.
- Despite being a left-arm seamer bowler (a valuable attribute), he was often overlooked or underutilized at the highest level, perhaps due to competition and role suitability.
Outlook And Legacy
At 34, Unadkat still has a few years left in top-level cricket (especially in domestic and IPL formats). His legacy may not be as a long-term international star, but:
- A legend of domestic cricket, especially for Saurashtra, which led him to success.
- A traveller/specialist in the IPL whose franchise remains in demand.
- An example of a modern cricketer whose career is defined by adaptation and local excellence
Conclusion
The story of Jaydev Unadkat is one of perseverance, domestic dominance and the ups and downs of professional sport. While he has not become a mainstay in the Indian international team, he has carved out a career through domestic excellence and the IPL. Be it for Saurashtra or the IPL franchise, his left-arm pace, resilience and ability to deliver at crucial moments will be remembered.
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. When did Jaydev Unadkat make his debut for India?
- He made his Test debut against South Africa on 16 December 2010.
- He made his ODI debut against Zimbabwe on 24 July 2013.
- He played his first T20 International in June 2016.
Q2. What are his key career figures and records?
- First-class: Over 460 wickets in ~130 matches, bowling average ~23.00.
- IPL: Over 100 wickets (110 in 112 matches) with best bowling figures of 5/25.
- Record: Most bought in IPL auctions (13 times as of 2025), which is a testament to his alleged value.
Q3. Which IPL teams has he played for and what was his auction price?
He has played for several IPL teams: KKR, RCB, DD, RR, MI, LSG and SRH. His highest auction price: Rs. 11.5 crore in 2018 (Rajasthan Royals).
