India and Australia are all set to lock horns across all the formats starting with the ODI series from November 27. There are many new faces on the cards that can impress fans and selectors on such an important tour. T Natarajan is one of the players to be in the spotlight. Many former players thought that it was too early to pick the 29-year-old pacer. But, VVS Laxman is not one of them.
T Natarajan emerged as a bright prospect for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the recently concluded IPL 2020. He dismissed top players like AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli in the tournament. Meanwhile, he also bowled the most number of yorkers in IPL 2020 leaving Jasprit Bumrah, Kagiso Rabada behind. He played a key role behind SRH making it to the playoffs in the 13th edition. He got a reward from the national selectors in return with a place in the T20 squad that will lock horns with Australia.
VVS Laxman Backs T Natarajan Ahead Of Australia Tour
VVS Laxman, who was the mentor of SRH in IPL 2020, feels that T Natarajan is an x-factor player. He asserted that the left-arm pacer is quite good at bowling yorkers in the death. The former player also added that he can in the upcoming T20 World Cup as well.
“With the T20 World Cup scheduled next year – if you look at the Indian team, it requires someone good at the death. It is great to see the likes of Mohammed Shami and Navdeep Saini bowl with such confidence in the death. Natarajan being a left-arm will be the X-factor,” Laxman told Sportstar.
Laxman added that everyone knows that Natarajan is best at bowling yorkers. But very fewer people are aware that he has lots of variations in his bowling. In his opinion, the 29-year-old pacer has mastered the art of bowling yorkers and can deliver well in tough times.
“Natarajan was always known for those yorkers – even in the TNPL. But, I must say he got a lot of variations that he didn’t use in the IPL. He has a sharp bouncer, slower one, off-cutter, and has the wicket-taking ability with the new ball,” Laxman explained.
“Essentially, Natarajan has the mindset and the confidence of executing yorkers which we generally believe to be the toughest to deliver. And, he has done consistently and exceedingly well through the IPL, the pick of them being the dismissal of RCB’s AB de Villiers under pressure.” he added
