India, captained by KL Rahul, will take on Bangladesh in a two-match Test series beginning on December 14 at Chattogram. Veteran Indian batsman Dinesh Karthik expressed concern that pacer Jaydev Unadkat might not be included in the starting lineup for the two matches against the Bangla Tigers as the team prepared.

Before the series began, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BBCI) revealed the amended squad. After receiving a call-up, Jaydev Unadkat returned to the red-ball side arrangement. Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, and Shardul Thakur are three bowlers that Karthik believes may have a higher chance of playing in the games than he does.

“I think Unadkat might not play this series, to be very honest. There is Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur. There is a good chance he might not end up playing this series, but I think that is okay. The fact that he was rewarded, he has been given those whites to represent India, be part of the team, that matters the most. He might not even find a place in the team for the Australia series, with Bumrah or Shami coming in, we might move on," Karthik said.

Jaydev Unadkat had a great run in the recently concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy, taking 19 wickets in 10 games to finish as the competition's top wicket-taker. The pacer hasn't played much red-ball cricket for his country, though, as his last Test match was against South Africa in 2010, which was also, intriguingly, his debut. Dinesh Karthik believed that Unadkat's accomplishments on the local circuit had earned him a spot in the team. “An absolutely heart-warming story, he is probably the most deserving fast bowler from the Indian domestic cricket in the last couple of years for sure. I think he plays in a state where, we obviously know how the Rajkot wicket is, to get the number of wickets he has taken, led the team so well," he added.