Jaydev Unadkat had capped off 2022 by playing a Test for India after 12 years. He kickstarted 2023 by taking a hat-trick in his first over on his return to the Ranji Trophy, the domestic red-ball competition, and went on to achieve career-best figures of 8 for 39 against a shellshocked Delhi in Rajkot.
Unadkat, the Saurashtra captain, removed Dhruv Shorey, Vaibhav Rawal and Yash Dhull off the third, fourth and fifth deliveries of the game, after Delhi opted to bat after winning the toss, a call that backfired spectacularly.
🎩 The first bowler to bag a #RanjiTrophy hat-trick in the first over of the match
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) January 3, 2023
🔥 Completed a five-for in his second over
Jaydev Unadkat's figures are 2-0-5-5 at the moment 🤯 #SAUvDEL pic.twitter.com/tb8utz6BQA