Young Indian pacer Jaydev Unadkat was in for a surprise as he became the most expansive domestic player at the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction 2018. Unadkat was bought by Rajasthan Royals for a whopping amount of Rs 11.5 crores.
On Sunday, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani heaped praise on Unadkat, saying the left-arm pacer was pride of Saurashtra.
Rupani congratulated Unadkat for being picked up by the Rajasthan Royals.
“Players like Jaydev (Unadkat) are pride of Saurashtra. I congratulate him and wish him to do well in the Indian Premier League and for the country,” Rupani told reporters.
26-year-old Unadkat has played a Test, seven ODIs and four T20 Internationals for India but in the last one year he has emerged as a parsimonious bowler in the shortest format.
Rajasthan Royals (RR) is back in action after two years. RR along with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) was banned from Indian Premier League (IPL) for two years due to fixing. And now when the franchise is back in the cash-rich league, the team spent huge money to land overseas as well as local stars in their squads.
In the much-talked about IPl auction, RR brought 22 players.
RR made the costliest buy at the auction by bidding England all-rounder Ben Stokes for Rs 12.5 crores and In its 22 buys, RR spent Rs 78.35 crore for buying 3 batsmen, 6 bowlers, 2 Wicket-keeper- 2, 11 All-rounders and 8 foreigners.
Earlier, in the player retention, the team had retained their skipper Steve Smith for Rs 12.5 crores.
RR also brought star players like Ajinkya Rahane, Sanju Samson, Stuart Binny and Dhawal Kulkarni in their final squad.
-With PTI inputs