Former head coach Ravi Shastri has praised T Natarajan’s death over bowling skill, saying the Indian team “really missed” the services of left-arm fast bowler in the T20 World Cup in UAE last year.
Natarajan, who came to the limelight in India’s historic Test series win in Australia in early 2021, had missed the World Cup due to a knee and shoulder injury he suffered during the home series against England in March 2021.
In the first two matches of the IPL 2022 for SRH, the Tamil Nadu pacer has picked 4 wickets so far.
“Very happy for him. We missed him in the World Cup. He would’ve been a certainty had he been fit. He got injured against England when we were playing the ODI series and we really missed him (in the World Cup),” Shastri said in ESPNCricinfo’s ‘T20 Time: Out’.
“He’s that specialist death bowler, bowls those yorkers very skillfully. He’s got great control. He is skiddy. A bit quicker than you think and hits the bat,” he added.
Shastri, who was the head coach when the bowler made his debut for India across the three formats in their memorable 2020-21 tour to Australia, said that Natarajan was a lucky charm for them.
“Every game I’ve picked him we’ve won. In his debut in T20, India won. In his debut in Test cricket, India won. From being a net bowler, he played those other two formats,” the former coach said.
The Kane Williamson-led SRH will next face defending champions Chennai Super Kings on April 9.
