Suspension of IPL 2021 turned out to be a blessing in disguise for T Natarajan

Left-arm pacer T Natarajan’s international started on a memorable note. With first being picked only as a net bowler for the Australia tour, he replaced Varun Chakravarthy in the T20I squad and then multiple injuries led to him making his debut across all the three formats down under. However, since then, he has been on and off the field due to the knee injury which he reportedly picked up in Australia itself.

Though he was deemed fit, Natarajan had pull out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) after playing only in two matches for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). He also underwent surgery and is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). In the meantime, disaster struck IPL and it had to be suspended due to COVID cases inside the bubble.

The second leg of the tournament is set to commence in September, just ahead of the T20 World Cup. And the T Natarajan is targeting a return to the field in the IPL again. While speaking to the New Indian Express, he gave an update on his recovery and informed he will soon return bowling with full fitness.

“I am progressing well after the surgery. I have started training slowly. I will start bowling at full tilt in the nets by the end of this month. My focus right now is on recovering fully and returning by the time the IPL restarts,” Natarajan said. “The fact that the IPL got suspended when it did has turned out to be a good thing in the end. None of it was in my hands of course,” he added.

Natarajan not thinking about T20 World Cup

Thanks to his ability to bowl yorkers, T Natarajan is one of the bright prospects to make it to the T20 World Cup squad later this year. However, he is not thinking much about it and first wants to make a comeback in IPL first to prove his fitness.

““I am not thinking about the T20 World Cup right now,” said Natarajan. “I am thinking more about my recovery. If I do well in the IPL, the chance to be selected for the T20 World Cup will come on its own. That is my belief. But for that, my recovery needs to be spot on,” the 30-year-old further said.