Left-arm bowler Thangarasu Natarajan hopes to make a case for a national recall in this year’s IPL, despite the Indian team’s recent struggles with regular injuries to its best pacers. Natarajan has frequently been forced to watch games from the sidelines due to terrible injuries. The 31-year-old made a splash in the IPL 2020 after taking 16 wickets for Sunrisers Hyderabad. His IPL campaign, however, was interrupted in 2021 by an injury-plagued season as he only made two appearances. In the IPL 2022 season, the cricketer from Salem found his bowling form, taking 18 wickets.
Unfortunately, he suffered another another injury, ending his chances of being selected for the T20 World Cup team. With his sights set on a comeback to the national squad, Natarajan is looking to return stronger in the 2018 IPL season. “Everytime I’m almost on the radar, I’m plagued by misfortune. Hopefully, God-willing, if again I do well this IPL, maybe I’ll get considered this year. For me, the IPL has been the main thing from where I got into the Indian team. So, if I do well in the IPL like last year and stay injury free, hopefully chances are there for me to be considered,” Natarajan said to Sportstar.
Natarajan tore his meniscus while competing for Sunrisers Hyderabad earlier in 2022. After competing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, his injury worsened, forcing him to withdraw from the Vijay Hazare Trophy at the tail end of 2022. The 31-year-old is ready to take the ball at any point in the game, despite being known for his lethal yorkers in the death overs.
“I had sustained a mild meniscus tear near my old knee injury in the last IPL. I trained at the NCA and got totally ready for and played the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Unfortunately, it caused a problem again (close to the Vijay Hazare Trophy), and the coaching staff advised me to rest and get absolutely match-ready. I can bowl at any stage, have prepared my mindset like that. The team wants me to bowl in some situation means they believe in me for that situation. I then try and deliver,” he added.