Team India skipper Virat Kohli has hinted that young fast bowler T Natarajan can be included in the squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup in India next year. Incidentally, Natarajan was one of the standout performers for Team India in the recently-concluded T20I series against Australia.
Picked as a net bowler after eventful IPL, the Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer came in as a replacement of Varun Chakravarthy in the T20Is. Subsequently, he was drafted in the ODI squad as well ahead of the start of the limited-overs leg Down Under. T Natarajan made his ODI debut in the third and the final game and returned with two wickets where India secured a win.
T Natarajan will be great heading to World Cup – Virat Kohli
The left-arm pacer was in his elements in the T20Is playing all the three matches in place of Jasprit Bumrah. T Natarajan was impressive throughout the T20I series as he returned with six wickets from three games to finish as the leading wicket-taker in the series.
His ability to remain calm and composed under pressure earned praised from all quarters including skipper Virat Kohli. The Men in Blues skipper also hinted at Natarajan’s inclusion in India’s T20 World Cup squad for next year’s showpiece event which is scheduled to be staged in India.
“Natarajan special mention for him as in absence of Bumrah and Shami. He is been the guy who has stood up and really delivered under pressure. And it’s an outstanding fact that he playing his first game at the international level,” said Kohli at the post-match presser after the third T20I between India and Australia on Tuesday.
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“He looks very composed and is a very hard-working guy and very humble too. I wish him all the best and a left-arm bowler is always an asset on the field and if he can be consistent it will be a great thing for us heading into the World Cup next year,” he added.
T Natarajan’s emergence will give Indian team management some respite who has been in search of a reliable left-arm pacer for quite some time now.