T20 World Cup 2024: Sunil Gavaskar feels T Natarajan 'could have been in the team' in place of this player
Published - 01 May 2024, 06:54 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:11 AM
Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar shared his thoughts on India's squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA in June. Sunil Gavaskar stated that Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) pacer Thangarasu Natarajan could have been included in the team for the ICC tournament.
The selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, finalized India's 15-member squad for the global T20 tournament on Tuesday, April 30. Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Mohammed Siraj were selected as the specialist seamers, with all-rounder Hardik Pandya serving as the fourth pacer in the squad.
Natarajan made his T20I debut for India during the 2020-21 tour of Australia. He took three wickets, including Glenn Maxwell, in his first T20I. The left arm pacer recorded 2-20 in the second T20I and 1-33 in the final game of the series. However, he hasn't played any T20Is for India since March 2021.
Natarajan has secured 13 wickets in seven games for the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the IPL 2024 season with an economy rate of 9. Mohammed Siraj has claimed six wickets in nine matches at an economy rate of 9.50. Arshdeep has taken 12 wickets in nine matches with an economy rate of 9.64.
T Natarajan Could Have Been In The Team - Sunil Gavaskar
Speaking to India Today, Sunil Gavaskar stated that T Natarajan deserved a place in the T20 World Cup squad due to his exceptional bowling performance. However, Gavaskar acknowledged the experience of the selected seam bowlers in the squad.
"I was thinking more like T Natarajan, the left-arm pacer bowler. He has been bowling extremely well. So, I thought maybe he could have been in the team. But that's okay. I think the seam bowlers that they have got, they all have experience. So no problem with that," Sunil Gavaskar said.
Hardik Pandya To Bowl As The Fourth Seam Bowler - Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar stated that Hardik Pandya's role as a fourth seam bowler could be a reason selectors have picked four spinners in the squad. Gavaskar highlighted that pitches in the West Indies might favor spinners more, stating that slower deliveries have troubled batters.
"Well, there is Hardik Pandya to bowl as well as the fourth seam bowler, so maybe that's the reason they've (selectors) gone with four spin bowlers. The pitches in the West Indies... there'll be a little more help for the spinners than for the quick bowlers. As we have seen in the IPL, the slower the deliveries, the harder it is for the batters to hit and that's perhaps the reason why they have gone with extra spinner," Gavaskar added.
Gavaskar concluded by stating that changes in attitude and approach could lead to success in the T20 World Cup under Rohit Sharma's leadership. The legendary cricketer drew parallels with the improvements seen in the 50-over format, where India reached the final without losing a match.
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Tagged:
ICC T20 World Cup 2024 India National Cricket Team T Natarajan Sunil Gavaskar Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL
