Shami is currently undergoing rehabilitation for a shoulder injury at BCCI’s National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. He developed a right shoulder problem during a training session prior to the Bangladesh tour. Having missed the ODI leg of the tour, there was a slim chance that Shami would be fit for the Tests, but that has now been ruled out.
Over the past five years, Unadkat has built an impressive body of work with Saurashtra, the team he has led to a wave of success in the Indian domestic circuit. He was front and center in their maiden Ranji Trophy title win in 2019-20, taking a record 67 wickets, the most by a bowler in a season. Over the past three Ranji seasons, Unadkat has taken 115 wickets in 21 matches.
“I do look at my individual performance but in a way that the team comes through, not in a way that I think will help me get selected for India or India A,” he had said. “Ultimately that’s the space you want to be in and I’m happy to try and help the team win as many games as possible. If you like the way you play the game then everything else falls into place.” I love this space and the mindset I’m currently in and I wouldn’t change that for anything. But the hunger and fire to play and perform for the country still burns bright.”
Over the years, Unadkat has built its USP around bowling on the famous lifeless decks in Rajkot. His ability to swing the new ball and turn the old ball has won him many wickets, and his improved fitness has contributed to longer spells, something he did tirelessly during that 2019–20 campaign which he later described as ” career-defining”.
Apart from one Test, Unadkat has also featured in seven ODIs and ten T20Is. He was last part of the India team during their Nidahas Trophy campaign in Sri Lanka in March 2019.
