Harbhajan Singh, veteran off-spinner praised pacer T Natarajan who got a chance to debut for India surprisingly after excelling in IPL 2020. He said that the pacer has the ability to turn into a potential match-winner for India especially in the shorter formats of cricket.
Harbhajan Singh said he is happy for T Natarajan saying his confidence has boosted him and increased India’s chances in the ongoing T20I series between India and Australia.
Harbhajan Singh Is Happy For T Natarajan Who Is Confident And Has Potential To Pick Regular Wickets
Speaking to India Today, Harbhajan Singh said the pacer might find it tough and difficult when opposition batsmen start planning and figuring him out but said that the 29-year-old has come a long way and shown ability to come back strong in tough, challenging conditions.
T Natarajan debuted in the 3rd ODI after Navdeep Saini went for plenty in first two ODIs. In the subsequent T20Is, he is leading wicket-taker with 5 wickets in 2 T20Is averaging a meagre 10 with ball bowling 8 overs. He picked 3/30 in the first T20I and followed it up with 2/20 in the second game in 4 overs quota. T Natarajan bowled 10 overs in 3rd ODI conceding 70 runs but picked 2 scalps.
Harbhajan Singh’s comments came after T Natarajan’s performance in 2nd T20I. India led by Virat Kohli took an unassailable 2-0 lead in T20I series.
“Well, I am so happy for Natarajan. The way he has gone about his life and the way he is performing is unbelievable. It shows that if you keep the faith and keep working hard and believe in yourselves, anything is possible,” Harbhajan Singh said.
“He has been a brilliant bowler for India in this series. He has been one of those major pillars in this series. Picking up wickets when India needed those wickets.”
“He showed he has the potential to be there and win games for Team India. He is someone who is very confident, whatever I have seen on screen, he is not afraid of getting hit. That’s something very special. At that level, all that matters is how confident you are.”
T Natarajan, as pointed out by all-rounder Hardik Pandya who was adjudged Man of Match for the match-winning unbeaten 42 in 2nd T20I, deserved to be the Man of the Match for his performance with the ball as the pacer picked up 2 wickets and conceded only 20 runs.
Harbhajan Singh: T Natarajan May Become Man Of Series In T20I Which Will Boost His Confidence
Harbhajan Singh said T Natarajan is in line to bag the Man of the Series Award and such an honour in his maiden T20I series will add to the pacer’s confidence. The spinner urged T Natarajan to keep his focus by working hard on his bowling, saying it might get tougher to perform consistently at the international level if opposition teams start figuring the pacer out.
“If he becomes man of the series, it will boost his confidence and how! Becoming Man of the Series against Australia and that too in Australia will be a big, big boost for him. It’s a big plus for Team India. It’s a great story… where he has come from and what he is doing for Team India,” Harbhajan Singh said.
“I think he is raw, he has not been seen in international cricket. There is not much footage about him. More he will play, batsmen will judge his line, length and pace. It’s going to get tougher. He needs to work hard on his game and keep improving,” Harbhajan Singh added.
T Natarajan, who caught the attention of the selectors with his shrewd ability to deliver yorkers at will, has shown the ability to adapt quickly in challenging Australian conditions. The Tamil Nadu pacer was seen using his bouncers and other variations up his sleeve to good effect as he troubled Australian batsmen in the ongoing T20I series. T Natarajan picked 16 scalps in 16 games for SunRisers Hyderabad in IPL 2020.