T Natarajan Awaiting Next Challenge Looking Forward To Feature In The 3rd Test
Jan 5, 2021 at 12:24 PM
T Natarajan, pacer on Tuesday said that he is awaiting his next challenge as he shared a photo of himself donning the white Test jersey.
T Natarajan shared the photo on his Twitter handle and he captioned the post as: “A proud moment to wear the white jersey. Ready for the next set of challenges.”
T Natarajan Will Be Challenged By Shardul Thakur And Navdeep Saini For 3rd Pacer’s Slot
T Natarajan will tough be given a tough challenge by Shardul Thakur and Navdeep Saini as one of them in all probability feature in 3rd Test. While Shardul Thakur has played a solitary Test where he suffered an injury, Navdeep Saini and T Natarajan are yet to debut. Umesh Yadav’s injury in 2nd Test will see either of the trio playing the Sydney Test in all probability unless India goes with an experienced 3 spin attack in spin-friendly Sydney.
A proud moment to wear the white jersey 🇮🇳 Ready for the next set of challenges 👍🏽#TeamIndia @BCCI pic.twitter.com/TInWJ9rYpU
— Natarajan (@Natarajan_91) January 5, 2021
T Natarajan was added to the Test squad for the remaining last two Test matches against Australia on January 1. The left-arm pacer had replaced Umesh Yadav, who limped off field as he sustained a strain in his left calf muscle on Day 3 of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
“The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named T Natarajan as Yadav’s replacement. Ahead of the Boxing Day Test, Shardul Thakur was added to the Test squad as Mohd. Shami’s replacement after the senior fast bowler suffered a hairline fracture in his right forearm. Both Shami and Umesh Yadav will head to the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru for further rehabilitation of their injuries,” the BCCI said in an official statement.
T Natarajan wasn’t even in T20I squad and went to Australia as a net bowler. He was added to T20I squad after spinner Varun Chakravarthy was ruled out due to injury. After Navdeep Saini complained of back spasms, he was added to ODI squad too as a backup. He picked 2 wickets in last and third ODI and was leading wicket-taker in T20Is picking 6 wickets averaging a meagre 13.83.
KL Rahul Ruled Out Of Remaining 2 Tests After Spraining His Left Wrist
On Tuesday, the BCCI confirmed that batsman KL Rahul has also been ruled out of the remaining two Tests against Australia adding to India’s spate of injuries in Tests. The decision was taken after batsman KL Rahul, who may have made comeback in last 2 Tests sprained his left wrist while batting in the nets at the Melbourne Cricket Ground during the team’s practice session on Saturday. KL Rahul will now return to India and will head to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru for further rehabilitation of his injury.
The four-match series between India and Australia is evenly poised and currently stands levelled at 1-1 and the third Test is slated to be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 7. Both the Indian and Australian team members moved to the venue in Sydney on January 4. On January 2 and 3, the teams had trained in Melbourne only.
Team India Test squad Currently For Last 2 Tests: Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Shubman Gill, Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Jasprit Bumrah, Navdeep Saini, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Md. Siraj, Shardul Thakur, T Natarajan.