Former Indian pacer Irfan Pathan has stated that T Natarajan is still the bowler who needs more grooming to be best in the longest format. T Natarajan has earned the mammoth praise from the experts for his bowling performance in the white-ball against Australia. It was his debut tour and he ended up being the highest wicket-taker in the three-match T20I series.
The injury woes in the Indian camp during the Australia tour gave T Natarajan one by one an opportunity to play the ODI, T20I and even Test series. The Tamil Nadu pacer had toured Australia as the net bowler but ended up making his debut across the format. He created history and became the first Indian player to make his debut in all three formats on the same tour.
However, Irfan Pathan observes that T Natarajan has some important areas to improve in his bowling to become a better Test bowler.
“He (T Natarajan) has to do a lot in Tests, work on his angle and rhythm. The good thing about him is that he has got repetitive action. But he will need to bring his body more behind his delivery at the time of release, as that will help him bring the ball into a batsman,” Irfan Pathan said.
I am sure the team management will also work with T Natarajan: Irfan Pathan
A left-arm himself, Irfan Pathan knows that the angle of a left-armer’s delivery can be disconcerting for the right-hand batsman. So, he believes his addition to the Indian squad will make their bowling attack a lot stronger.
“I always say that left is right. A left-arm bowler is an added advantage for any team, as he brings variation in your attack creating a different angle for the batsmen.”
The 36-year-old feels T Natarajan should stick to his basics but should also be open to learning variations and adding new tricks up his sleeve. Irfan Pathan is hopeful that the team management would help T Natarajan become a better bowler in international cricket.
“His (T Natarajan’s) initial aim should now be on playing for the country for the next five-seven years, and for that he must focus on his fitness. He should continue doing what he has in his armour and slowly learn more while playing. I am sure the team management will also work with him to make him a better product,” Irfan Pathan said.
Although T Natarajan has not been named in the Indian squad for the first two Tests against England, the 29-year-old could have a role to play in the limited-overs leg.