SRH vs LSG: We Missed T Natarajan In The T20 World Cup- Ravi Shastri

Former Indian cricketer Ravi Shastri said the Indian team missed the services of T Natarajan in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021.

Natarajan executed the yorkers and low full-tosses rather than half-volley to get the wickets of KL Rahul and Krunal Pandya in the penultimate over of Lucknow Super Giants innings on Monday.

T Natarajan’s injury woes in 2021

T Natarajan became the first Indian player to make his international debut across all three formats during India’s tour of Australia 2020-21, albeit, he went as a net bowler.

The 31-year-old Tamil Nadu player last played for India in March 2021 but a series of injuries kept him out of action for the majority of last year. Natarajan was ruled out of the first leg of IPL 2021 owing to a knee injury and before he could recover for the second phase, the left-arm pacer tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the Delhi Capitals match.

T Natarajan would’ve been a certainty had he been fit: Ravi Shastri

Natarajan also missed the T20 World Cup for India and the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Tamil Nadu last year. Shastri, who was India’s head coach during the T20 World Cup in the UAE, said the left-arm bowler would have certainly been picked in the squad if he wasn’t injured.

“Very happy for him. We missed him in the World Cup. He would’ve been a certainty had he been fit. He got injured against England when we were playing the ODI series and we really missed him (in the World Cup). He’s that specialist death bowler, bowls those yorkers very skilfully. He’s got great control. He is skiddy. A bit quicker than you think and hits the bat,” Shastri told ESPNCricinfo.

“Every game I’ve picked him we won. In his debut in T20, India win. In his debut in Test cricket, India win. From a net bowler, he played those other two formats,” Shastri added.

SRH lost the match by 12 runs as LSG pacer Avesh Khan bowled a stupendous spell of 4/24 to help his side claw their back in the game at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. The Orange Army lost its second game of IPL 2022.

Also Read: SRH vs LSG: Watch – T Natarajan’s Bullseye Yorker Castles Krunal Pandya