IPL 2021: T Natarajan Testing COVID-19 Positive Didn't Affect The Result Of The Match, States Trevor Bayliss

Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach Trevor Bayliss refused that T Natarajan‘s news impacted the team’s match performance against Delhi Capitals in Dubai.

On Wednesday, SRH lost to Delhi Capitals by eight wickets in their first match of the second leg of IPL 2021.

T Natarajan was going to play against DC: Trevor Bayliss

Just hours before the match, there was news of Tamil Nadu pacer Thangarasu Natarajan tested positive for the COVID-19 virus and along with him, his close contacts were immediately isolated.

Bayliss said that Nataraj was supposed to play for the team but then they had to make a last-minute change and wished the bowler a speedy recovery.

“I don’t think that would have affected the result of the match. They played way too well for us tonight. It was a little bit of an upset,” Bayliss said at the post-match press conference.

“Natarajan was going to play, but these guys are professional players. Every now and then, there’s an injury just before play and you have got to make a late replacement. So, I am sure all of the players are, in a way, used to that. But we hope Nattu (Natarajan) gets over it pretty quickly and we can move on,” he added.

Delhi Capitals bowled exceedingly well: Trevor Bayliss

Delhi Capitals bowlers led by Anrich Nortje restricted SRH to 134/9 in the first innings before their batters accomplished the chase within 17.5 overs.

South Africa pair of Kagiso Rabada (3/37) and Nortje (2/12) was the major cause of destruction for Williamson and his men. Bayliss credited the Delhi Capitals bowlers for their superior performance.

“Give Delhi the credit. They bowled particularly well. They have got some world-class bowlers and upfront some world-class very fast bowlers, so they had a good day. We didn’t have such a good day and that’s the game of cricket,” Bayliss said.

“Their bowlers upfront bowled exceedingly well. A lot of pace and used the wicket well with cutters, with the ball just holding in the wicket little bit and jumping up a little bit, those tall fast bowlers took full advantage of it.”

Sunrisers Hyderabad are languishing at the bottom of the points table with just one win from eight matches.

Also Read: IPL 2021: T Natarajan Tests Positive For Covid-19, 6 Members Of SRH Contingent Isolated