‘I saw his videos and decided will surely buy him’: Virender Sehwag recalls when KXIP bought T Natarajan for Rs 3 crores at 2017 auctions
Left-arm fast bowler T Natarajan made his ODI debut for India in the 3rd ODI against Australia in Canberra on Wednesday. Facing an in-form Australia team that already had an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, Natarajan dismissed Marnus Labuschagne early on to showcase why he was one of the most talked about players during the Indian Premier League 2020 in the UAE.
Natarajan gave away 70 runs in his 10 overs and picked one wicket, but he showed moments of brilliance with the new ball - thus keeping scope of future ODI calls. On being asked about Natarajan’s debut during an interaction on Sony Sports Network by a fan, Sehwag recalled how Kings XI Punjab had bought the seamer for Rs 3 crore ahead of the 2017 season - a decision that was questioned by cricket pundits.
Also read: Laxman highlights Kohli’s two major strengths after India captain completes 12000 ODI runs
“I was very happy because when I had picked Natarajan in the IPL for the Kings XI Punjab, everyone was asking questions that this player has come who has not even played domestic cricket and came after playing just the TNPL league, so how he was picked at such a huge price,” Sehwag, who was KXIP mentor at the time, said.
“I was not bothered about the money but there is a talent. We had a few Tamil Nadu players in our team at the time who told me that he is a very good player who bowls very well in the slog overs and delivers a perfect yorker.
“I saw his videos and then decided that we will surely take him at the auction because we did not have a death bowler. Unfortunately that year, he had an injury to the elbow or the knee because of which he could not play too many matches. But we won only the matches that he played in and lost all the other matches,” Sehwag added.
Also read: ‘I’ll remember it forever’: The KL Rahul gesture which floored debutant Cameron Green
“So I was very excited to see that he was getting an opportunity although I was thinking that he would be given a chance in the T20Is but it was a surprise for me that he was played in the ODIs.
“But whatever happened was good. All the best to T Natarajan. I hope that he keeps on doing well from here and makes his place in the Indian team,” Sehwag signed off.
India picked a consolation 13-run win in the 3rd ODI against Australia. The two teams will play three-match T20I series starting from Friday.
I think beating India in India is a far higher thing: Graeme Swann
Vihari, Siraj reveal how Ravi Shastri motivated them after Adelaide debacle
- It was a humiliating moment for the visitors as they were dismissed for one of the lowest scores in Test cricket history. They had also lost their captain Virat Kohli.
I can be called a bowling all-rounder, I can bat: Shardul Thakur
Cheteshwar Pujara reveals why he ‘decided to let the ball hit the body’
- Pujara scored 54 in the second innings and kept India steady. En route to the slowest half-century of his Test career, Pujara endured 11 blows to the body. Yes, 11 – thrice on the helmet, once on the left bicep, thrice on the bottom glove on his right arm, and once on the chest, and some more.
Hanuma Vihari reveals details about Ashwin’s battle in Sydney Test
- In an interview with Sports Today, the batsman recounted the incident as "funny" saying that the back injury of the bowler was not letting him bend and hence, Ashwin was taking the blows on his body.
Inzamam highlights Shastri's role behind India Test series win
- Shastri's role was lauded by former Pakistan captain Inzamam-Ul-Haq, who feels the former India all-rounder's astute knowledge of the game has helped the team immensely.
Bangladesh batsman Tamim Iqbal names his favourite Tendulkar knock
- "Some of the shots he played in that innings were breathtakingly good. I remember he was building partnerships, but it became pretty clear that he had to get India to the final on his own."
IPL 2021: Rajasthan Royals trade Robin Uthappa to Chennai Super Kings
- IPL 2021: Robin Uthappa was brought by the Royals ahead of the IPL 2020, but the batsman had a very indifferent season, scoring 196 runs from 12 matches.
Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes return as England name squad for first two India Tests
- Archer and Stokes were rested for England's two-Test series against Sri Lanka.
'Took injection, couldn't feel my leg': Vihari describes batting through pain
- Moments into his innings, Hanuma Vihari ran a single and grimaced in pain, and it was at that moment that everyone knew he had done something to his hamstring.
'MS Dhoni mentioned it': Styris feels CSK are in 'big trouble' ahead of IPL 2021
- Former New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris is worried for Chennai Super Kings ahead of IPL 2021 after they released their list of retained and released players.
'He tried to make them The Wall too': Inzamam lauds Dravid's contribution
- Inzamam praised Dravid for what he's done for Indian cricket, highlighting that his biggest strength was making the players mentally tough, without which India's Test series win against Australia wouldn't have been possible.
Don't want to be compared with Dhoni: Pant aims to 'make a name' for himself
