Indian fast-bowler Jaydev Unandkat posted a cryptic message on social media after not being selected for the Indian team for either the T20I or Test series against New Zealand. Unadkat has been a consistent performer on the domestic circuit for a number of years. 

The Men in Blue are set to play T20 World Cup finalist New Zealand in a home series that includes 3 T20Is and 2 Test matches later this month. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the squads for both series with a number of senior players taking a rest. 

Despite the absence of many high-profile stars, Unandkat is absent from both the T20 and Test squads. Unadkat expressed his frustration by sharing a cryptic post on Twitter which he captioned as, “Just another pace bowler who can bat,” with a wink emoji. 

Along with the video, Unadkat attached a video showing his batting ability sending a subtle message to the selectors of his all-round talent. In Saurashtra’s opening game of the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy (SMAT), Unadkat had scored a half-century against Hyderabad.

With Hardik Pandya’s constant fitness issues, India are looking for a player who can play the role of a pace-bowling all-rounder. Kolkata Knight Riders’ star Venkatesh Iyer is an option who the selectors have circled and he looks set to make his international debut in the T20I series against New Zealand. 

Unadkat took 67 wickets in the 2019-20 Ranji Trophy and led Saurashtra to the title with a victory against Bengal in the final. Unadkat fell just one wicket short of Bihar spinner Asthoush Aman’s record tally of 68 wickets. 

Unadkat’s Saurashtra will face Karnataka in the pre-quarter-final of SMAT 2021 on Tuesday. So far this season, he has taken 9 wickets in five games while scoring 74 runs with the bat. 

Unadkat has featured in 1 Test match, 7 ODIs and 10 T20Is for India in the past. The 30-year-old’s last appearance for India came in the Nidhas Trophy final against Bangladesh in 2018.