T Natarajan's Aim Should Now Be To Play For India For Next Five-Seven Years - Irfan Pathan

Former India all-rounder, Irfan Pathan says that T Natarajan should now focus to improve his fitness and be part of the Indian team in all the three formats for the next 5-7 years after making a debut in all the three formats on the recently concluded tour to Australia.

The 29-year-old pacer from Chinnappampatti village near Salem district in the state of Tamil Nadu became the first Indian player to make his debut across formats on a single tour. He first made his ODI debut against Australia and picked a couple of wickets in the third ODI in Canberra, which India won is an otherwise lost series.

The seamer played all the 3 T20Is and snared 7 scalps – he was so good in the T20I series that Hardik Pandya handed over his Man of the Series award to Natarajan. Finally, after a spate of injuries in the Indian camp, the southpaw was given a Test debut at the Gabba – he returned with 3 wickets in the first innings as the visitors etched history in Brisbane.

Natarajan has to do a lot in Tests: Irfan Pathan

Irfan Pathan opines that while Natarajan was impressive in Brisbane, he has a lot of work to do if he intends to play more Test for his country. Pathan, who himself was a left-arm pacer, talks about the left-arm angle and how Natarajan can better it further.

As quoted by Sportskeeda, Irfan Pathan said, “He (T Natarajan) has to do a lot in Tests, work on his angle and rhythm. The good thing about him is that he has got repetitive action. But he will need to bring his body more behind his delivery at the time of release, as that will help him bring the ball into a batsman.”

The 2007 T20 World Cup winner reckons Natarajan, a late bloomer at 29, should improve his fitness so that he can play all 3 formats for India.

Irfan Pathan heaps high praise on the Sunrisers Hyderabad seamer, who bowled the most number of yorkers in the IPL 2020, to continue to add variations and upgrade his skills. The seamer is not included for the upcoming Test series against England but will return to for the 5-match T20I series.

“His (T Natarajan’s) initial aim should now be on playing for the country for the next five-seven years, and for that he must focus on his fitness. He should continue doing what he has in his armor and slowly learn more while playing. I am sure the team management will also work with him to make him a better product,” Irfan Pathan added.

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