T Natarajan, India, and Tamil Nadu pacer aim to make a good a good comeback in the upcoming cricketing year after being affected by injuries and COVID. The left-arm medium-pacer will represent Tamil Nadu in the upcoming Ranji Trophy 2022.
Aside from that, the 30-year-old will enter the IPL 2022 mega auction, which will take place on February 12 and 13 in Bengaluru.
Natarajan has set his base price at INR 1 crore, but given his fame, a bidding war among the franchises is expected. Natarajan, on the other hand, is unconcerned with his IPL price tag and is eager to return to the field.
“I'm not thinking too much about it [the auction]. IPL, another T20 World Cup - there are talks about 2022 being a big year - but I just want to focus on my strengths and keep working hard. If I do that, the rest of the things will fall in place. I'm coming back after a long break, so I'll be lying if I say I'm not nervous.”
"I've done well in the IPL and for India before, so people will expect strong performances from me. Once I play one or two matches, I will hit my rhythm and will be more clear with my plans. I'm feeling refreshed now and just want to keep doing whatever has worked for me in the past - focusing on my yorkers and cutters. I want to come back as the old Natarajan," the 30-year-old told ESPNCricinfo.
Natarajan played for Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL and the left-arm seamer hasn't looked back since.
The bowler gained his first call-up to the Indian squad for the tour of Australia in 2020-21, when he made his debut for India across all three formats, thanks to his outstanding bowling in IPL 2020 season.
Natarajan had been laid low due to a knee injury that curtailed his IPL 2021 season and then was laid low by a COVID infection.
The pacer made a return to the field in patches. He was a member of the Tamil Nadu team that won the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament, but he was unable to compete in the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy in December.
