IPL 2021: T Natarajan Recalls MS Dhoni's Advice During IPL 2020

India and SunRisers Hyderabad left-arm pacer T Natarajan has said that former Indian skipper MS Dhoni’s advice to keep bowling cutters and slow bouncers has helped him get better in his craft.

Natarajan, who nailed as many as 71 yorkers in IPL 2020, became a household name last season as he dismissed the who’s who of world cricket like MS Dhoni, AB de Villiers.

Natarajan recalled his conversation with MS Dhoni during the last season where the CSK skipper had encouraged him by saying that the 30-year-old will get better in his art with experience.

“Speaking to somebody like Dhoni itself is a big thing. He spoke to me about fitness and encouraged me, saying that I will keep getting better with experience. He said, use slow bouncers, cutters, and variations like that. It has been useful for me,” T Natarajan was quoted as saying by ”ESPNcricinfo’.

Before that discussion with MS Dhoni, T Natarajan has dismissed the three-time IPL-winner during a game against CSK.

Recalling the wicket, T Natarajan said-

“I pitched one in the slot and he hit me for a big six – 102 metres or something. The next ball I got his wicket (and didn”t celebrate) — I was just thinking about that previous ball,” said T Natarajan. “After coming back to the dressing room, though, I was happy. After finishing the match, I also had a chat with him.” he added.

Besides MS Dhoni, T Natarajan also accounted for the prized scalp of AB de Villiers, whom he cleaned up with a pinpoint yorker.

It was a day of double joy for the left-arm pacer as he was blessed with a baby girl on the very same day.

“On one side there was my girl and on the other side, I got that wicket in an important knockout game. Romba santhosham (I was extremely happy), but I didn”t really tell the others (about the baby),” recalled T Natarajan. ”I thought I will tell everyone else after we win the game, but my captain (David) Warner spoke about it, I think, at the post-match (presentation),” Natarajan said.

Natarajan finished as SRH’s second-highest wicket-taker last season and he would be hoping to do an encore in the forthcoming edition of the IPL.

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