Hyderabad have suffered a massive blow as their star pacer T Natarajan has been ruled out from the ongoing edition of the Indian T20 League.

The 30-year-old left-arm pacer will miss the remainder of the Indian T20 League 2021 as his knee injury aggravated which he sustained during India’s tour of Australia. He did not feature in the last two games of Hyderabad and just played two games this season, taking two wickets. 

"Yes, he has been ruled out of the tournament," a source within the Hyderabad camp confirmed to news agency ANI on Thursday. 

After securing their first win of the season against Punjab, captain David Warner gave a fitness update on Natarajan, saying: “He has obviously got a sore knee. Given the circumstance in these bubbles, if he goes and gets a scan, he obviously has to sit out for seven days. He has to get back in quarantine." 

"We are just monitoring him at the moment. The physios are doing their best to analyse from a face point of view but he obviously has to go out and get a scan at some point," he added.

Interestingly, Natarajan had also missed four T20Is against England and he only made his way back into the team for the final T20I of the five-match series after working on his knee at the National Cricket Academy.

The Tamil Nadu-born fast bowler had made history in the Brisbane Test against Australia in January when he became the first Indian cricketer to make his international debut across all three formats on one tour.

Natarajan was earlier picked for the Australian tour as a net bowler for Team India after his impressive performances for the Hyderabad franchise in the previous edition of the Indian T20 League held in UAE.

India left-arm pacer T Natarajan is doubtful for the upcoming T20I series against England due to a shoulder injury, the ANI has reported.

According to the report, the 29-year-old is racing against time as he is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.

Natarajan made his international debut in the third ODI against Australia on December 2 in Canberra. Subsequently, he was the wrecker-in-chief for Team India in the T20I series as he helped the visitors beat Australia 2-1. Natarajan was the highest wicket-taker in the T20I series as he claimed six wickets in three matches at an average of 13.83.

"He is down with a knee and shoulder injury and is in doubt for the T20I series. Will have to take it one day at a time and it is a race against time," an NCA source was quoted as saying to the news agency.

Meanwhile, spinner Varun Chakravarthy has failed to clear the mandatory fitness test yet again by the BCCI. Chakravarthy could be replaced by Rahul Chahar in the squad as the latter would be a like for like replacement and was in the reserves for the Test series. The spinner has earlier played a T20I for India against the West Indies.

Interestingly, this is not the first time that Varun Chakravarthy will be missing on a potential India debut. The 29-year-old was ruled out of India’s tour of Australia due to a shoulder injury. Chakravarthy was the highest wicket-taker of the Kolkata franchise in the Indian T20 League last year.

The mystery spinner was picked in the Indian T20I squad for the England series after he had undergone a lengthy rehab at NCA. 

The upcoming five-match T20I series will be played at the newly named Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad starting on March 12.

India's T20I squad: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Yuzvendra Chahal, Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, T Natarajan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Navdeep Saini, Shardul Thakur.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Brenton Edwards

Indian cricket team pacer Thangarasu Natarajan made history in the Brisbane Test against Australia on Friday when he became the first Indian cricketer to make his international debut across all three formats on one tour.

The left-arm fast bowler is just the 17th Indian player to don the national jersey across all three formats. 

Welcome to Test cricket, @Natarajan_91

Thangarasu Natarajan becomes the first Indian player to make his International debut across all three formats during the same tour #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/CKltP2uT5w

�?ICC (@ICC) January 14, 2021

Natarajan brought on board as a net bowler for the Indian team

Interestingly, Natarajan was picked for the Australian tour as a net bowler for Team India after his impressive performances for the Hyderabad franchise in the Indian T20 League 2020.

The 29-year-old’s yorker to castle Bangalore talisman AB de Villiers in the Eliminator was arguably the ball of the tournament. 

Natarajan’s ability to execute well-directed yorkers at speeds close to 140kmph helped him receive a call to India's T20I squad for the Australia series following mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy’s shoulder injury. 

Later, just hours before the Men in Blue's first ODI against Australia, Natarajan received his maiden call-up to the Indian ODI squad as Navdeep Saini complained of a back spasm, and the Tamil Nadu-born cricketer was roped in as a replacement for the former. 

Making his dream debut across three formats in Australia

Natarajan eventually made his international debut in the third ODI against Australia on December 2 in Canberra. The left-arm pacer had an immediate impact as he claimed two wickets for 70 runs in his 10 overs, helping India win the match by 13 runs.

Subsequently, the 29-year-old was the wrecker-in-chief for Team India in the T20I series as he helped the visitors beat Australia 2-1. Natarajan was the highest wicket-taker in the T20I series as he claimed six wickets in three matches at an average of 13.83.

 

 The dream run continued for Natarajan as he became India’s 300th Test cricketer replacing injured Jasprit Bumrah in the playing XI at the Gabba.

Interestingly, the Tamil Nadu-born recorded the second-best figures by an Indian left-arm seamer on debut. He finished with 3 for 78 against Australia in the series decider at Brisbane after RP Singh's 4 for 89 against Pakistan way back in 2005/06.

Natarajan has received a lot of praise from former India cricketers, including Virender Sehwag and VVS Laxman, for his sensational debut for the Indian cricket team in all three formats.

“Natarajan’s story is a stuff dreams are made of. Feel delighted for the young man,�?Sehwag tweeted.

Natarajan's story is a stuff dreams are made of. Feel delighted for the young man. pic.twitter.com/OMr4KNaoPt

�?Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) January 15, 2021

However, the story of the rookie left-arm pacer from Chinnappampatti, a village near Salem in Tamil Nadu, is nothing short of a movie on the silver screen.

How T Natarajan overcame poverty and suspect bowling action

Born to a daily wage construction labourer, Natarajan distributed newspapers and milk to help his parents put food on the table. The rising star of Indian cricket was a tennis ball cricketer for much of his early life and first held a real cricket ball at 20.

Natarajan was selected to play for Jolly Rovers, one of Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA)’s top teams. The southpaw showcased his abilities with the leather ball, which eventually earned him his Ranji Trophy debut. 

However, just when he was climbing up the cricketing ladder, Natarajan's world turned upside down after being reported for a suspect action and suspended for a year in 2014.

In 2016, the left-arm pacer finally made his comeback in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL), where he had first turned heads of the IPL scouts with his uncanny ability to nail the yorkers.

In a game between Dindigul Dragons and Tuticorin Patriots, Natarajan's side - the Dindigul Dragons - tied the game off the last ball of the over to trigger a Super Over. Batting first, his side made 12 and left 13 runs for the Patriots to win off six balls.

Natarajan, at the end of the sixth ball, had conceded just three singles and a double. He had bowled six yorkers that night - the six balls that possibly changed his career.

 

In the 2017 Indian T20 League auction, the left-arm pacer was picked up by the Punjab franchise for three crores before Hyderabad acquired him for a lesser fee in 2018. 

Thangarasu Natarajan’s story is undoubtedly one of the most inspirational ones in the world of sports.

Feature image courtesy: David Kapernick / AFP

The Indian cricket team suffered another massive blow as right-arm pacer Navdeep Saini complained of pain in his groin on the opening day of the fourth and final Test against Australia at The Gabba on Friday.

Saini visibly seemed to be in a lot of discomfort, holding onto his thighs, after his follow-through as he bowled his fifth delivery to Marnus Labuschagne in the 36th over of the Australian innings. Incidentally, it was the same delivery on which skipper Ajinkya Rahane dropped Labuschagne at gully.

The physio was brought on and the 28-year-old left the field after doing some stretches. Interestingly, Rohit Sharma bowled the final delivery to complete the over. 

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) took to their social media accounts to inform that Saini has been taken for scans and that he is currently being monitored by the medical team.

UPDATE - Navdeep Saini has now gone for scans.#AUSvIND //t.co/pN01PVnFfx

�?BCCI (@BCCI) January 15, 2021

Meanwhile, Australia batsman Marnus Labuschagne smashed a scintillating hundred on the first day of the Brisbane Test. The 26-year-old brought up his fifth century in Test cricket and his second at his home ground at The Gabba.

A home ground hundred to remember for @marnus3cricket! @hcltech | #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/ACcRzq3AiH

�?cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 15, 2021

However, Labuschagne (108) was later dismissed by India debutant T Natarajan after the former miscued a pull shot.

Another wicket for T Natarajan and this time he's claimed the prized scalp of Marnus Labuschagne who falls for 108! #AUSvIND | #WTC21 pic.twitter.com/IEd93JKFtg

�?ICC (@ICC) January 15, 2021

Interestingly, India left-arm pacer had claimed his maiden Test wicket after he gave the visitors a crucial breakthrough to get rid of Matthew Wade for 45. Natarajan broke the 113-run stand between Labuschagne and Wade as he dragged India back into the Test.

First Test wicket for @Natarajan_91 .

Wade departs for 45.

Live - //t.co/bSiJ4wW9ej #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/Q0kOX0YCmb

�?BCCI (@BCCI) January 15, 2021

Earlier, Team India made as many as four changes in their playing XI which last featured in Sydney.

Australia have won the toss and opted to bat first in the 4th and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. We have four changes. #TeamIndia #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/87TrZAkA1Z

�?BCCI (@BCCI) January 14, 2021

Jasprit Bumrah, Hanuman Vihari, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were left out because of their respective injuries and were replaced by debutants Washington Sundar and Natarajan, Shardul Thakur and Mayank Agarwal.

Feature image courtesy: Twitter/ BCCI

The Indian cricket team has included Thangarasu Natarajan and Shardul Thakur in their Test squad to face Australia for the remainder of the Test series. With veteran fast bowlers Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami side-lined with injuries, the visitors are short of experience in the bowling department.

Though an Ajinkya Rahane-masterclass in the Boxing Day Test match levelled the four-match Test series 1-1 for India, following a humiliating loss in the first Test match at Adelaide, the Men in Blue are running short of players and fast.

After Mohammed Shami got injured during the first Test match, Umesh Yadav became the latest player to join India’s injury list as he limped off the field with a calf injury during the second Test match. And BCCI has communicated that he won't be able to recover in time for the next two Test matches.  

“The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named T Natarajan as Yadav’s replacement. Ahead of the Boxing Day Test, Shardul Thakur was added to the Test squad as Mohd. Shami's replacement after the senior fast bowler suffered a hairline fracture in his right forearm,�?BCCI’s media release read.

“Both Shami and Umesh Yadav will head to the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru for further rehabilitation of their injuries. Rohit Sharma has completed his quarantine and has now joined the Indian Cricket Team in Melbourne,�?the release further read.

With debutants Mohammed Siraj and Shubman Gill performing exceedingly well in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, the selectors have been encouraged to put inexperienced T Natarajan and Shardul Thakur on the firing line.

While Natarajan's international experience is limited to just four matches, one ODI and three T20Is, all of which were played in ongoing India's tour of Australia, Thakur has played just one international Test match when India hosted West Indies in 2018.

However, while the situation in India’s bowling department is precarious, Rahane will feel relieved to welcome ace batsman Rohit Sharma to the squad who joins as the vice-captain.

Feature Image Courtesy: AFP/ Brenton Edwards

India fast bowler Umesh Yadav ruled out of the remaining two Test matches against Australia as he is all set to return to India, reports ANI.

The 33-year-old had limped off with severe pain in his calf muscle on day 3 of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

According to the report, sources in the Indian camp confirmed that the seasoned pacer will now be aiming to recover in time for the England series in February.

"His scans came in and he will miss the third and fourth game. So, there was no point in holding him back and it is better that he returns to the country and undergoes rehab at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). He left on Wednesday night," the source told ANI.

The report further added that T Natarajan, who made his brilliant debut in the limited-over series against Australia, will replace Umesh Yadav in absence of limited options.

"With limited options available, the team management can ask for Natarajan to be added to the squad," the source said.

Yadav had played in both the opening two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21, claiming four wickets while bowling 39.4 overs. The Vidarbha pacer had scalped three wickets in the Pink-Ball Test in Adelaide which India lost by eight wickets. 

Interestingly, the veteran fast bowler was in the middle of an excellent spell at the MCG when he experienced pain in his left leg and called for immediate medical attention. He later limped back to the dressing room.

Umesh Yadav complained of pain in his calf while bowling his 4th over and was assessed by the BCCI medical team. He is being taken for scans now. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/SpBWAOEu1x

�?BCCI (@BCCI) December 28, 2020

“Umesh Yadav complained of pain in his calf while bowling his 4th over and was assessed by the BCCI medical team. He is being taken for scans now,�?the BCCI had stated on their social media accounts on Monday.

The Indian cricket team is already missing the services of their experienced duo of Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma who have been sidelined due to injuries in the four-match Test series.

India cricket team’s dramatic collapse against Australia on the third day of the first Test match at the Adelaide Oval witnessed the side registering its lowest score in Test history, which was further compounded by an injury to senior fast bowler Mohammed Shami.

Coming into bat at No. 11, the 30-year-old pacer was caught on his right forearm by Pat Cummins�?short bouncer as he was trying to move out of its way. The seriousness of Shami’s injury was evident as the team doctor could be seen tending to his elbow within minutes.

While Mohammed Shami tried to bat again with a strapped-up forearm following a massage and a pain-relief spray, he couldn’t face another ball. He eventually left the field after a prolonged chat with the medical staff.

Post-match scans later revealed that a fractured arm has Shami ruled out of the remaining three Test matches.

As if Virat Kohli’s absence from the second Test match wasn’t concerning enough, the Indian team has now been burdened with the task of finding Mohammed Shami's replacement ahead of the Melbourne Test.

Unfortunately, India’s option to fly in a Shami replacement isn’t available with the 14-day quarantine protocol in place. Hence, here are three Indian players who are available to take Shami’s place in the Indian playing XI for the Boxing Day Test next week.

Navdeep Saini

As far as a like-for-like Mohammed Shami replacement is concerned, India don’t have one. The fact that Shami was rested during India’s limited-overs series just to keep him ready for the four Test matches, speaks volumes about the player’s Test-bowling prowess.

However, in Navdeep Saini, India have a bowler who could match the mighty Australian pace-attack in terms of pace. The well-built Haryana bowler had stunned everyone with his raw pace at the Indian T20 League last season in a match against Mumbai and he remains the fastest Indian bowler to do so in the T20 tournament. Hence, MCG's pitch could assist the 28-year-old who could wreak havoc on the Australian camp by hitting the deck hard.

Saini impressed everyone with his figures of 3/19 during the first innings of India's second practice match against Australia. He has already played seven ODIs and nine T20Is at the international level so far. The Indian pacer has impressed the selectors by claiming 128 First-Class wickets in 46 matches.

Mohammed Siraj

Though as inexperienced as Navdeep Saini with the red ball, Mohammed Siraj is likely to be India’s first choice for Mohammed Shami’s replacement in the second Test match.

Yet another fast bowler who claimed fame with his performances in the Indian T20 League, Siraj was used more regularly in the practice matches ahead of the first Test. Siraj did reasonably well, picking up five wickets in the two practice games, which included a three-wicket haul at the Drummoyne Oval.

Though Siraj’s exposure at the international level is limited to just three T20Is and one ODI match, the 26-year-old Hyderabadi has picked 152 wickets in 38 First-class matches at an average of 23.44.

Thangarasu Natarajan

India’s tour of Australia has been a blessing in disguise for Thangarasu Natarajan. The Tamil Nadu bowler was called up to the national squad late as Varun Chakravarthy got injured at the last moment. And his entry into the Test squad could follow a similar pattern.

T Natarajan was a revelation in India’s limited-overs series against Australia, where he took eight wickets in four matches (two in one ODI and six in three T20Is) exhibiting pinpoint yorkers and clever variations.

While T Natarajan is in Australia to serve the purpose of a net bowler, his left-arm pace bowling could become a lethal weapon for India in the absence of veterans like Shami and Ishant Sharma. Natarajan's left-arm angle could really be handy for India as he might also help create some rough for Ravichandran Ashwin like Aussie pacer Starc has been creating for his teammate Nathan Lyon.

The 27-year-old T Natarajan, however, has played only 20 First-Class cricket matches with 64 wickets at an average of 27.03 and a Test debut could be a huge task for him.

 

Feature Image Courtesy: AFP/ William West

India extended their stupendous form in T20Is as Hardik Pandya’s late heroics sealed the series for the Men in Blue against Australia after Virat Kohli’s men had conceded the ODI series Down Under.

However, Team India did not have the best of starts as Matthew Wade and Steve Smith gave the hosts a solid foundation at the top. However, T Natarajan's timely spell kept Australia at bay as the Tamil Nadu-born bowler ended with 2/20 in his four overs.

Indian batsmen, though, were in top from the very start as they started chasing a tricky target of 196. Shikhar Dhawan's half-century was complemented by Virat Kohli's quick-fire 40 before Hardik Pandya scored 42 in 22 balls to take the match home, and consequently the series, with two balls remaining.

This was India’s 10th T20I win on the trot in a Covid-19 struck 2020 as the Men in Blue remain unbeaten this entire year.

Indian cricket team’s last defeat came against West Indies back in 2019, following which they have defeated Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Australia. It was India who ended Australia’s year-long unbeaten streak in T20Is in the last T20I match and their dominance in the shortest format has Twitter buzzing with excitement.

 

Has to be among the most feared finishers in the game. @hardikpandya7

�?Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 6, 2020

 

That's as clutch as they come from Hardik Pandya!

Final scorecard: //t.co/KEpZrVTqWs#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/hbf5u37gqP

�?cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 6, 2020

 

Hardik Pandya smashes two big sixes off Daniel Sams to help India win the second T20I by 6️⃣ wickets

They have also won the series!#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/rcRY5C5bHD

�?ICC (@ICC) December 6, 2020

 

111 metre hit. Absurd range off anyone, let alone a spinner. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/GUgOkgourt

�?Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) December 6, 2020

 

Hardik Pandya you did not just do that? #AUSvIND

�?Alexandra Hartley (@AlexHartley93) December 6, 2020

 

Hardik Pandya! What a cricketer. The MVP every team dreams of having in their side. #AusvInd

�?Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) December 6, 2020

T Natarajan's bowling Performances in This T20I Series against Australia 2020 :-

•Overs - 8
•Runs - 50
•Wickets - 5
•Economy - 6.10

This is outstanding bowling figure. Nattu Hard work is pay of. Brilliance . #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/rThcYsQiF2

�?CricketMAN2 (@man4_cricket) December 6, 2020

Feature Image courtesy: Instagram / BCCI

The recently concluded ODI series between India and Australia gave us a fair idea of the pitches Down Under and what to expect in the upcoming encounters. While the turf at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) saw both the teams crossing the 300-run mark in the two ODIs, the good track at the Manuka Oval served a perfect thriller.

So, when these two sides cross swords in first of the three T20I games on December 4 at the Manuka Oval yet again, I expect the following players to play a key role in it:

KL Rahul

KL Rahul had a subpar tenure in the ODI series - scoring a solitary half-century - but his stocks in the shortest format are what makes him a dangerous entity. The Punjab captain is coming on the back of an explosive Indian T20 League campaign, and I, for one, believe that he would pose a greater threat than any other Indian batsman. Considered as a T20 specialist, his ability to bat across several positions might prove handy for his team.

Adam Zampa

There’s no doubt that Adam Zampa has been expensive in his recent T20 outings, but the fact remains that he is a sheer wicket-taking threat to the Indian Cricket team. Hence, Australia will look up to him for breaking deadlocks even if the spinner leak runs in the process. Zampa was impressive in Australia’s last match at Manuka Oval - third ODI against India - where he maintained a 4.5 economy rate in his 10 overs, scalping Shreyas Iyer’s wicket.

Thangarasu Natarajan

Two wickets on his ODI debut is bound to lift Thangarasu Natarajan’s confidence heading into the first T20I. The 29-year-old displayed an array of variations in the Indian T20 League, with his ability to pitch scorching yorkers on demand earning him a national call-up. With the conditions at Manuka Oval providing assistance to swing bowling, I believe Natarajan can rightly be India’s X-factor in the game.

Glenn Maxwell

While Glenn Maxwell was one of the best Australian players in the recently concluded ODI series, the T20 format will pose a whole new challenge for the all-rounder. His evident struggle in the Indian T20 League with Punjab welcomed rightful criticism and the all-rounder will certainly have a point to prove. Despite all those talking though, I believe home conditions will play its part and the 32-year-old will manage to put on a decent show.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / David Gray

Thangarasu Natarajan's late call-up to the India ODI squad that will face Australia at the SCG on November 27, 2020, is a testament to the brilliant yorker bowler that he is.

T Natarajan would have never been in contention for India's limited-overs sides if not for his yorkers. In the recently-concluded Indian T20 League in UAE, Natarajan had bowled the most number of yorkers and got the most number of wickets with it. He even ended up bowling, arguably, the ball of the tournament as well when his searing yorker whooshed past AB de Villiers to hit the stumps.

But, T Natarajan isn’t a one-season wonder and his journey didn’t begin in UAE last month. It was on a hot September night at Tirunelveli in the Tamil Nadu Premier League in 2016, when Natarajan had first turned heads of the IPL scouts with his uncanny ability to nail the yorkers.

In a game between Dindigul Dragons and Tuticorin Patriots, Natarajan's side - the Dindigul Dragons - tied the game off the last ball of the over to trigger a Super Over. Batting first, his side made 12 and left 13 runs for the Patriots to win off six balls.

Natarajan, the left-arm pacer, strolled in against Washington Sundar (an acclaimed hitter in the league at the top of the order), Subramanian Anand and veteran Tamil Nadu batter Abhinav Mukund. At the end of the sixth ball, Natarajan had dismissed Anand, conceded just three singles and a double. He had bowled six yorkers that night - the six balls that possibly changed his career.

The Punjab franchise was quick to rope him in for the 2017 Indian T20 League edition before Hyderabad acquired him for a lesser fee in 2018. Though Natarajan played more matches for Hyderabad, he wasn't a starter at the beginning of the season in 2020.

However, unlike most people in the world, 2020 proved to be massive for Natarajan. He was a hit in the 2020 edition of the league for Hyderabad with his pinpoint accurate yorkers. His ability to contain batsmen with smart thinking and stunning accuracy grabbed headlines.

In a game against Delhi, Natarajan had bowled as many as 10 accurate yorkers in his last two overs to hand his side a win. And once famed T20 hitters struggled to hit his yorkers in the air, things started to change for T Natarajan.

He was called up as a reserve seamer to the Indian T20 squad to travel to Australia. Later, an injury to Varun Chakravarthy meant that he was drafted into the T20I squad itself. Hours before the first ODI against Australia at Sydney, Natarajan is now with a chance to make a national debut in a format he has never played in. 

With Navdeep Saini complaining of a stiff back, Natarajan was called up to the ODI squad with the BCCI making a pretty late announcement of the same, arguably because Natarajan is due to debut on Friday. Either way, it's been one hell of a rollercoaster ride for the Tamil Nadu seamer. 

From being on the sidelines in the franchise to being their strike pace bowler in a season to making it as a reserve T20 bowler, a T20I squad member, and now an ODI squad member, all in the space of two months. However, nothing happens overnight.