The absence of Sunrisers Hyderabad fast bowler T Natarajan against Mumbai Indians on April 17 (Saturday) left everyone shocked. Speaking after the third defeat in a row, Hyderabad mentor VVS Laxman has revealed the reason behind Natarajan’s omission in the playing XI. Khaleel Ahmed replaced the India international and returned with figures of one for 24 in his four overs.
In the run chase, Hyderabad got off to a blistering start through Jonny Bairstow and skipper David Warner too got a start. It seemed a cruise for the first 6-7 overs of the game. But as has been the norm in recent games, Sunrisers Hyderabad started losing the plot to the older, softer ball on a slow deck. Mumbai Indians well, did what they are habituated to doing, coming back from behind to startle the opposition.
T Natarajan has a niggle in his left knee – VVS Laxman
Once Bairstow departed, the middle-order crumbled against the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult. From being 90 for two to getting all-out for 137 runs, Hyderabad have failed to put up a strong performance and if they don’t manage to arrest this issue; it will haunt for the rest of IPL 2021.
Meanwhile, T Natarajan’s exclusion grabbed a few eyeballs But VVS Laxman revealed that the fast bowler, who recently made his international debut in the series against Australia has a little niggle. Laxman said that the left-arm pacer “had a niggle in his left knee” and that the medical team will continue to monitor the Tamil Nadu seamer for future games.
“Unfortunately, Natarajan had a niggle in his left knee and that’s why he was ruled out and that’s why we went with Khaleel Ahmed who is also a left-arm seamer…We are going to assess the condition of Natarajan and I am sure the medical staff of the Sunrisers will take the right decision which will be beneficial for him and the franchise,” VVS Laxman said in the press conference.
Khaleel Ahmed impressed with the way he bowled
Meanwhile, VVS Laxman also highlighted the positives of Khaleel Ahmed’s game. The left-arm pacer returned with figures of 1/24 from his 4 overs with the wicket of Hardik Pandya; Ahmed could have had Kieron Pollard as well had Vijay Shankar held onto a simple catch at mid-wicket. Pollard went on to hit two sixes off the last couple of balls of the innings, which eventually proved to be the difference between win and loss.
“I was very impressed with the way he bowled. In his first game of the season, he assessed the conditions really well and used a lot of his variations along with extracting a lot of pace and bounce off the surface. So a lot of positives [to take] for SRH from the way Khaleel Ahmed bowled,” the former India batsman added.
