IPL 2022: Good to see T Natarajan back, seems he wants to be on the flight to Australia – Sunil Gavaskar

 

Former Indian legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar showered praise on T Natarajan and stated that the left-arm pacer wants to be on a flight to Australia for the T20 World Cup, which is to be played later in the year. Natarajan couldn’t be part of the previous T20 World Cup squad due to a knee injury.

In fact, former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri recently said that they missed Natarajan in their team for the T20I showpiece and he would have been a certain because of his death bowling skills.

Meanwhile, Natarajan has made a fine return to the game as he has scalped 15 wickets in seven matches of IPL 2022 and he is currently the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament.

The left-arm pacer came up with his best against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Saturday as he returned with impressive figures of 3-10 in the three overs he bowled. He accounted for Glenn Maxwell, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Harshal Patel to help Sunrisers Hyderabad skittle out the opposition at 68 runs.

Natarajan has a great ability to hit the blockhole and he can be a useful bowler for India along with Jasprit Bumrah in the death overs.

“We all know his yorkers are his specialty but he held the ball back well. It’s good to see him back because for some time it looked like Indian cricket had lost him.

“It’s good to have him back in contention. I am pretty sure, with the way he bowls between the 16th and the 20th over, he will be very much in contention,” Gavaskar told Star Sports.

The Little Master reckons Natarajan is full of confidence and it is palpable in the way he is bowling for the Orange Army.

“Last year, perhaps, he wasn’t on top of his game. Right now, he is full of confidence. He has had his share of injuries but he is fresh and raring to go. He recognizes that there is a World Cup coming up, he wants to be on that flight to Australia,” he added.

SRH have now won five matches in a row and a lot of credit goes to their bowling battery. The Kane Williamson-led team will next face Gujarat Titans at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Wednesday.