T Natarajan Has Put Mohammed Shami Under Pressure As A T20I Bowler: Sanjay Manjrekar

Former Indian batsman Sanjay Manjrekar has heaped praises on T Natarajan following his game-changing displays in the last two matches against Australia. T Natarajan has put on stellar bowling shows in the third ODI and first T20I to deliver much-needed victories for India after a shaky start to the tour. Sanjay Manjreakar believes that the left-arm seamer might have put Mohammed Shami’s place in T20I under scrutiny.

T Natarajan took two wickets in his first ODI appearance and followed it up with three more in the T20I debut, putting the Australian batsmen in a spot of bother. The left-arm bowler finished with figures of 4-0-30-3 as India won the opening T20I by 11 runs to take an early lead in the leg. On the other hand, Mohammed Shami delivered underwhelming performances in the One-dayers while also being the most expensive bowler in the first T20I, ending with 4-0-47-0.

Sanjay Manjrekar underlined that T Natarajan has put Mohammed Shami’s place under scrutiny since India would be keen on having the left-arm bowler alongside Jasprit Bumrah. The 55-year old believes that since Bumrah and Natarajan could bowl exceptionally at death and Deepak Chahar operating well with the new ball, the pressure is on Shami.

“What he has done is he has put Mohammed Shami under pressure as a T20I bowler. Now India will be really tempted to have him along with Bumrah as one of his seamers. This is a guy who can bowl at the death. If you have Bumrah and Natarajan, it just puts pressure on Shami because Chahar is from a different school of swing,” Manjrekar said as quoted by India Today.

I just find T Natarajan amazing: Sanjay Manjrekar

Sanjay Manjrekar has been impressed by the 29-year old, having come into the side out of nowhere and taking the crucial wicket of Glenn Maxwell with the length ball. He observed that Natarajan could dismiss batsmen even without yorkers. Manjrekar pointed out even he himself might not have imagined challenging the big boys for a spot in the Indian team.

“It’s a great story purely because this is a guy who has come out of nowhere. Today, by playing his first T20I and bowling so well there was a wicket he took off a length ball of Maxwell. He is not a bowler who will get you wickets only with the yorkers when the batsmen are trying to slog you. I just find him amazing. A couple of years ago, who would have thought? He would not have imagined himself in his wildest dreams that he would be challenging the big boys for a place in the Indian team,” he added.

Also Read: Aaqib Javed Reveals Shaheen Shah Afridi Almost Quit Cricket During His Maiden PSL Stint