Why was T Natarajan benched by DC despite ₹11 Crore purchase; Head Coach finally reveals

Delhi Capitals (DC) head coach Hemang Badani revealed the reason why T Natarajan did not feature in all matches during the recently concluded IPL 2025 season. Badani stated that the Tamil Nadu fast bowler was not dropped from the squad but missed the matches in IPL 2025 due to fitness concerns.

Delhi Capitals ended their IPL 2025 campaign in fifth place with 15 points. They narrowly missed out on a playoff spot, which left Delhi players and fans disappointed. One of the major talking points after their exit was the absence of T Natarajan, which sparked speculation about his non-selection.

T Natarajan Bought for a Whopping ₹10.75 Crore in the IPL 2025 Mega Auction

Delhi Capitals signed Natarajan for a whopping ₹10.75 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction. The pacer was the third most expensive buy, after KL Rahul and Mitchell Starc. Natarajan's absence from the playing XI in most matches led to considerable speculation among fans and pundits.

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The left-arm seamer featured in only two matches—against Gujarat Titans (GT) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). He went wicketless in the game against GT, while the clash against SRH was washed out due to rain, denying him an opportunity to bowl.

Natarajan bowled just 18 deliveries in the entire season. Delhi Capitals’ decision to bench him despite the hefty price tag raised serious questions about the team’s selection strategy and use of resources.

Hemang Badani Reveals Reason Behind T Natarajan’s Exclusion in IPL 2025

During commentary in a Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) 2025 match, Hemang Badani dismissed speculation that T Natarajan was sidelined due to selection decisions. Badani added that Natarajan had not fully recovered from an injury and struggled with fitness issues throughout the tournament.

"Why would we spend ₹11 crore on a player & bench him? We bought him specifically for the middle & end overs. Unfortunately, Natarajan wasn’t fully fit after returning from injury - remained injured throughout the season, that’s why he didn’t play," Badani said.

Natarajan was unable to play because he was still recovering from an injury and hadn’t regained full fitness. Although the team had high expectations of him, they chose not to take any risks with his health during the season.

Delhi Capitals Started IPL 2025 Strongly but Failed to Reach Playoffs

Under Axar Patel’s leadership, Delhi Capitals started the IPL 2025 season strongly, winning six of their first eight games, which raised hopes of a top-two finish. However, their performance declined in the second half, as they managed to win only one more match.

Talking about Natarajan, he gained attention during the 2021 Test series victory in Australia. However, ongoing injuries and concerns over his workload have led him to step back from red-ball cricket. Since his Test debut, he has not played any first-class matches.

Natarajan has played one Test, two ODIs, and four T20 internationals. Across formats in international cricket, he has taken 13 wickets. In the IPL, he has claimed 67 wickets in 63 matches, with an average of 30.12 and an economy rate of 8.94.

Also read: "Why they've gone to Shubman Gill?" Ricky Ponting's crushing verdict on India Test Captaincy