India’s visit to Australia in 2020-21 will be remembered for a long time. Following strict COVID-19 rules, the Indian team faced many difficulties, such as missing some key players due to injuries, but still managed to win the four-match series against Australia 2-1.
During this tour, two fast bowlers, Mohammed Siraj and T Natarajan, became well-known. Siraj’s career has continued to improve, but Natarajan has not been able to maintain his early success.
A few fast bowlers gained fame during the tour, such as Mohammed Siraj and T Natarajan. Siraj’s career has continued to improve, but Natarajan hasn’t been able to build on his early success.
Unfortunately, the left-handed fast bowler’s career in red-ball cricket has slowed down due to injuries, and his Test debut against Australia in Brisbane remains his last first-class match.
However, 2024 started with high hopes. He performed well in the IPL, playing a key role in helping his team, Sunrisers Hyderabad, reach the final.
In the Tamil Nadu Premier League, he took 12 wickets for Tiruppur Tamizhans, helping them reach the playoffs. But he hasn’t been able to return to international cricket because of the rise of other talented players.
His inconsistent fitness record might be a big reason why the Indian team management hasn’t picked him for international games, like the recent T20 World Cup, even though he did well in the IPL.
Also, Natarajan wasn’t chosen for any of the four teams in the new Duleep Trophy, which starts in early September. Many top Indian cricket players will be playing in this longer-form game, trying to show the selectors they deserve a spot in the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh.
Indian spin bowler Ravichandran Ashwin has said that unless Natarajan starts playing longer-form cricket in the domestic league, it will be tough for him to get back on the national team.
“I think Natarajan is a great bowler in shorter games. He did well in the IPL this year. But he hasn’t played a first-class match since January 15th, 2021, when India played Australia in Brisbane. He hasn’t been playing for the last three years,” Ashwin mentioned on his YouTube channel.
“When he’s chosen but doesn’t get to play, he feels down. We support him a lot. I really like Natarajan; he’s a great person. But I won’t just say it for the sake of it today. If Natarajan played longer format cricket and made it to the Tamil Nadu team, I would definitely say he should play there,” he continued.
Up to now, the 33-year-old, who plays for Tamil Nadu in local cricket, has taken part in 21 first-class matches and has taken 67 wickets with an average of 27.59.
