Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag shed some light on when he bought Indian bowler Natarajan in the 2017 IPL auction. Even though questions were raised, the former KXIP mentor always saw the talent in the 29 year old. Sehwag also mentioned his delight to see Natarajan in the Indian team and highlighted the impact the fast bowler can have on games.
“I was very happy because when I had picked Natarajan in the IPL for the Kings XI Punjab, everyone was asking questions that this player has come who has not even played domestic cricket and came after playing just the TNPL league, so how he was picked at such a huge price.”
A few Tamil Nadu players had recommended Natarajan’s name to Sehwag and also his qualities as a death over specialist.
“I was not bothered about the money but there is a talent. We had a few Tamil Nadu players in our team at the time who told me that he is a very good player who bowls very well in the slog overs and delivers a perfect yorker.”
Natarajan was out for most of the 2017 IPL season but played a few matches.
“I saw his videos and then decided that we will surely take him at the auction because we did not have a death bowler. Unfortunately that year, he had an injury to the elbow or the knee because of which he could not play too many matches. But we won only the matches that he played in and lost all the other matches,” added Sehwag.
Sehwag expressed the great deal of pleasure he took to see Natarajan in the Indian team although he thought the 29 year old would have made his debut in the T20s instead of the ODIs.
So I was very excited to see that he was getting an opportunity although I was thinking that he would be given a chance in the T20Is but it was a surprise for me that he was played in the ODIs. But whatever happened was good. All the best to T Natarajan. I hope that he keeps on doing well from here and makes his place in the Indian team.”
