Former India batsman VVS Laxman has heaped rich praise on Tamil Nadu pacer T Natarajan saying that he deserves every bit of accolades and appreciation that he is receiving after a successful debut for India on the recent tour of Australia.
Natarajan, who had an amazing IPL 2020 for, was drafted into the Indian team for the T20I series in Australia in place of injured Varun Chakravarthy and went onto make his debut in all three formats for India.
Natarajan ended the tour as the highest wicket-taker in the T20Is with 6 scalps while he bagged 2 in the third ODI and 3 in the only Test he played against Australia. He received a huge ovation and welcome in his hometown of Salem in Tamil Nadu.
"Good things happen to good people. I feel Natarajan deserves every bit of it. For us, Nattu waited initially because he didn't get an opportunity to play for Sunrisers whereas at the start of the camp in Dubai because of the lockdown, we had a 2 weeks camp.
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Right from that first day in that camp, he was in an excellent rhythm which means even during the lockdown, he was working on his fitness and even his bowling. He looked in fantastic rhythm while some of the other bowlers were not. And then he got to play for us right from the first match.
What impressed me the most, which is very important if you have to perform at the highest level is the mental strength and the fortitude which is required. He displayed. Once Bhuvi left us because of an injury, he bowled the tough overs for us, and once you do that you're ready and prepared and he got the self-belief.
Because of that, I felt he got the opportunities, even though he went there as a net bowler, he got the opportunities to play the ODI, then the T20Is, and the Test match. He was ready for that," Laxman told Boria Majumdar on Sports Today.
Natarajan also missed the birth of his daughter as he went straight to Australia from UAE and his sacrifice was noted by every cricket fan and expert including Laxman, the mentor of Natarajan’s IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
"Also, not going back home when his daughter was born and continuing to give everything so that his dream... I still remember the conversation I had when he was selected as a net bowler. He was so excited as if he was going to represent India.
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He just wanted to be part of that Indian set-up. He wanted to be part of the set-up where he got an opportunity to bowl to the likes of Virat Kohli and all the greats of Indian cricket. He was so excited. I didn't meet him, I spoke to him but I can imagine how proud he must have been.
Fantastic work ethic and again that is something I am so proud of because he sat on the bench. He didn't get an opportunity to play for us but not one he showed the disappointment.
Every day he would be the first guy to go to the gym, he would bowl his overs in the net sessions and the match simulations. He would do a lot of conditioning where he takes enough catches. He never compromises on his preparations,” Laxman said.
"That's why God has been very kind. I always feel that players who are committed to the game will get their rewards. And the rewards have come in such a fantastic time for him and he truly deserves it," Laxman said.
(India Today inputs)
