T20 World Cup 2024: Tom Moody names the Bumrah like bowler that India didn't pick in the squad

Former Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach Tom Moody feels that left-arm pacer Natarajan was unlucky to not get selected in the Indian squad for ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

The Men's chief selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar has drafted 2 left-arm seamers in the team with one being in the 15-man squad and the other in extras. T20 specialist Arshdeep Singh, who played in the 2022 T20 WC edition, made it to the main squad while DC seamer Khaleel Ahmed is among the 4 extra players. On that note, Tom Moody has stated that Natarajan will be kicking himself.

Tom Moody explains Khaleel Ahmed's selection for the T20 World Cup

While speaking on ESPNcricinfo's Timeout show, Tom Moody was asked to shed light on the selection of Khaleel Ahmed and the exclusion of Natarajan. The host asked if the selectors felt that Khaleel was a better option than the SRH seamer.

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In his response, Tom Moody claimed that both of them are different bowlers with different qualities. Moody explained that Khaleel Ahmed is a "dynamite" with the new ball and that the selectors might have felt that a new ball specialist would be of better use.

The 2016 IPL-winning coach then claimed that Khaleel was not a good bowler in the deaths. He has been inconsistent at the back end, so Agarkar and co. might have thought that it's better to have a new ball replacement than a death-over specialist.

"They are two different bowlers. Khaleel gives them an option with the new ball. He's not gonna give you an option at the end. I think he's shown that over recent times that he's too inconsistent at the end but he's dynamite with the new ball. The selectors feel that they need a new ball replacement option against a specialist death." - Tom Moody said via ESPNcricinfo.

Tom Moody then shed light on Natarajan's quality and how he would have helped the Indian team. Moody, who has worked closely with Natarajan, claimed that he was the one that the chief selectors would have gone behind if they were looking for a death over specialist.

But due to the presence of Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep as the back-end specialists, Natarajan could not cut and for that, he will be feeling very unlucky.

"And if you're going specialist death, then Natarajan is an absolute no-brainer. He's an absolute standout, along with Bumrah when it comes to bowling at the back end. Natarajan would consider himself unlucky not to actually be in consideration, whether it not be in the 15 but certainly not in the breakout squad because he is on song." - Moody concluded.

How have Khaleel Ahmed and Natarajan performed in IPL 2024?

Since IPL 2024 was the basis of Khaleel Ahmed's selection in the extras, we must take a look at his and Natarajan's numbers this IPL season. Khaleel has picked up 12 wickets from 11 IPL matches for Delhi Capitals at an economy of 9.48.

Natarajan has collected 13 wickets from 2 fewer matches with quite a similar economy of 9. Both of them have been responsible for their team's performance but it was Khaleel Ahmed whom the selectors thought will be a better option. How will this decision pan out? Time will tell.