Jaydev Unadkat, the captain and pacer of the Saurashtra cricket team, dedicated their recent Ranji Trophy title victory to his teammate Cheteshwar Pujara, whom he referred to as one of the region’s “favorite sons.” Saurashtra claimed the title after defeating Bengal in the final match of the tournament at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens.
Following their victory, Unadkat praised Pujara, who scored the winning runs against Australia in his 100th Test match in Delhi, for his continuous support and encouragement throughout the tournament. “As I said before, it’s a fitting tribute to one of Saurashtra’s favorite sons, Chintu (Pujara’s nickname). He played his 100th Test for India against Australia in Delhi, but he was equally eager, wishing us all throughout,” Unadakat said after the game.
Pujara, who made his international debut in 2010, became the 13th Indian cricketer to play 100 Tests or more during the Delhi Test. He has amassed 7052 runs in his 13-year-long career in the longest form of the sport. Prior to joining the Indian national team, Pujara also played for Saurashtra, scoring 25, 5, and 91 in three innings.
Under Unadkat’s leadership, Saurashtra has claimed three domestic titles, including the Ranji Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy in December 2022. Unadkat expressed his pride in the team’s accomplishments, stating, “Three trophies in three years proves that we have been doing a lot of things right. We have set a tone, and I’m really proud of what this team has achieved. It’s not just about winning trophies but creating a legacy for our team, which will leave a bigger impact on cricket in the region.”
Looking ahead, Unadkat is optimistic about the team’s future, saying, “Our goal will be to carry forward this legacy for at least 3-4 years till the core of our team is intact. This decade and era belong to Saurashtra.”
