We Need Players Like T Natarajan: Shardul Thakur Hails Left-Arm Pacer

India fast-bowler Shardul Thakur has hailed the impact of T Natarajan during the third ODI against Australia and said that the team needs bowlers like the left-arm pacer who can make a comeback after a tough start.

T Natarajan made his debut in the match and was targeted by Aaron Finch straightaway. On just his third ball in international cricket, the Tamil Nadu ace was hit for a six by the Australia skipper. In his second over, he was hit by another four by the right-handed batsman.

A brilliant moment for the debutant #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/50dJEoCL4i

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 2, 2020

However, T Natarajan showed his class soon and castled Marnus Labuschagne in his third over to give India a much-needed early breakthrough. It was the first time in the three-match series that India managed to get a wicket in the powerplay. Towards the end of the game too, the Australians targeted him.

Glenn Maxwell and Ashton Agar hit him for 18 runs in the 44th over before the pacer made another comeback. He gave away just four runs in the 46th over and then sent dismissed Agar in the 48th over to all but end Australia’s hopes of winning the game.

‘He is good’:

Following the game, Shardul Thakur, who picked up three wickets in the win, hailed T Natarajan. The pacer was all praise for his bowling partner’s character after the latter bounced back whenever he was put under pressure by the hosts’ batsmen.

“He (T Natarajan) is good. He has done well in the IPL and if you see he executed a lot of yorkers there. He came back pretty well in this game that shows he has got a big character. We need players like him who can come back (after getting hit for runs),” said Shardul Thakur.

“In the white-ball form of cricket, you are going to get hit as a bowler. But what’s important is to come back and bowl again, develop the confidence and take it on from then and there,” he added.

India and Australia will now lock horns in a three-match T20I series, starting on December 4. After the T20Is, both the teams will play the much-anticipated four-match Test series, starting on December 17.

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