Buzzing once more: Natarajan says his love for the sport retains going regardless of accidents.
| Photo Credit: G. KARTHIKEYAN
T. Natarajan was certainly one of TNPL’s first large finds. It was his exploits within the inaugural version (2016), nailing yorkers, that helped him land his maiden IPL contract in 2017.
Since then, Natarajan has represented the nation in all three codecs, establishing himself as probably the greatest bowlers within the loss of life overs within the IPL.
At the identical time, the TN pacer has had to take care of his justifiable share of accidents. Following a profitable IPL 2024, when he picked up 19 wickets for Sunrisers Hyderabad, he has had a troublesome time recovering from a freak shoulder harm.
“I broke a part of my bone near the left collarbone while training during the off-season last year. It is an extremely rare injury, and I was unfortunate,” says Natarajan. “It could have been career-ending, but thankfully, I was able to overcome it without surgery. However, it took me nearly seven months to start bowling again properly.”
The harm meant he bowled in only one recreation for Delhi Capitals within the just lately concluded IPL, after being cleared just for the second half of the match.
The 34-year-old is sort of again to full health within the ongoing TNPL and has been key to his aspect IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans’ run to the ultimate, taking 9 wickets at an economic system price of 6.35.
“I have become mentally accustomed to injuries. Every time I have a good season, I get injured. It is difficult, but I just work on myself, hoping to bounce back quickly. I am able to do this because of the love I have for the game.”
This yr within the TNPL, the left-arm pacer is having fun with bowling with the brand new ball, one thing he doesn’t get to do usually within the IPL. “You gain experience through matches, and every bowler feels pressure in a T20 game. What the TNPL has allowed me to do is try out new things. It’s been working out well so far, and I know I can bowl even better up front, but this is just the start,” he defined about his new position.
Looking forward, Natarajan hopes to play for Tamil Nadu within the upcoming white-ball competitions and take it because it comes. “In whatever cricket is left in me, I want to enjoy and make good memories. I love the TNPL because I get to spend time with all these raw talents from districts and guide them through my experience.”
Published – July 05, 2025 07:41 pm IST