India’s rookie fast bowler T Natarajan is doubtful for the T20I series opener England. As per the reports in ESPN Cricinfo, Natarajan is going through his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore.
The NCA has informed the Indian team management that the fast bowler will be unavailable till March 12.
However, the depth of the injury and Natarajan’s availability for the T20I series is still unknown. The Indian board is yet to give any official update on Natarajan’s availability.
Natarajan had last played for India in the Brisbane Test match when he scalped three wickets on his debut. The left-arm pacer was not picked for the four-match Test series against England as he was given paternity leave by the BCCI.
On the other hand, Natarajan grabbed the limelight when he scalped 16 wickets in 16 matches while playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League 2020. Thus, he had played a key role in taking his team to the playoff stages of the previous season of the IPL.
Subsequently, Natarajan had earned his maiden call-up to India’s T20I squad after Varun Chakravarthy was ruled out with a shoulder injury. Natarajan also made his ODI debut against Australia after he was added to the ODI squad as Navdeep Saini had complained of a back spasm.
Natarajan had a decent start to his ODI career as he scalped two wickets for 70 runs in 10 overs. The fast bowler from Tamil Nadu, then impressed the most in the T20I series against the Aussies. Natarajan scalped six wickets in three matches and played a key role in India’s series win of 2-1.
The left-arm pacer from Salem has impressed with his skills to hit the blockhole consistently and he is expected to play a key role for the Indian team in the T20 World Cup, along with gun fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah.
The first T20I between India and England will take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on March 12.
