Jaydev Unadkat's Ecae of 1.94 ranks third among 54 qualified IPL bowlers. He concedes 1.94 fewer runs per over than expected for the phases he bowls in. That translates to a bowling surplus of 46 runs saved above replacement across 3297 career T20 bowling deliveries. His projected WAR/M of 0.23 for IPL 2026 makes him SRH's second most valuable bowling option behind Harshal Patel.

The model assigns Unadkat the new-ball role: 3 powerplay overs and 1 middle over per match. His bowling role fit of 0.85 reflects a bowler who is effective rather than dominant in the powerplay. The numbers explain why.

Powerplay: Economy Over Dots

Unadkat's powerplay economy of 7.9 is 1.2 runs per over below the league average. He took 3 wickets in 12 powerplay overs in IPL 2025 at a dot rate of 33%.

The dot rate is the red flag. At 41% across his career, his powerplay dot percentage sits well below the 46% league average. He controls runs through boundary suppression, not through building pressure with dots. His powerplay boundary rate of 17% is elite, 5 points below the league average. He keeps the ball out of the arc but allows singles and twos.

Middle Overs: The Secondary Phase

In the middle overs, Unadkat bowled at 6.9 economy with 2 wickets. That 1.8 run advantage over the league average is even better than his powerplay performance. His overall dot rate of 33% across his career remains a structural weakness, but the run-rate suppression compensates.

Batting: Minimal Contribution

Unadkat's batting adds negligible value. With 268 career T20 balls faced and a batting WAR/M of 0.01, he is a pure bowling selection. His deathShare of 92% on the batting side confirms he bats almost exclusively as a tailender.

What This Means for IPL 2026

Unadkat pairs with Shivam Mavi as SRH's new-ball combination. His economy-first approach complements Mavi's wicket-taking style. With a bowling WAR/M of 0.21, every over he bowls tilts the run-rate calculation in SRH's favor. The 33% dot rate is a concern that could be exposed by aggressive batters who target singles rather than boundaries, but his boundary suppression has been consistent across 3297 career deliveries.

His xImpact of 36 is modest, but his economy numbers are genuinely elite. For a domestic pace bowler, that 1.94 Ecae is outstanding production.