T Natarajan aims comeback in IPL 2021 with an eye on T20 World Cup berth

Natarajan's main focus is on recovering fully after knee surgery.

T Natarajan eyes comeback in the second phase of the IPL | BCCI

India’s left-arm pacer T Natarajan is currently recuperating after knee surgery and is undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) Bengaluru. The 30-year-old is fully focused on recovering and is not too worried about his chances of making it to India's T20 World Cup 2021 squad.

Having opted out of the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) to undergo surgery in April this year after playing only two games for the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), the 30-year-old is targeting a return in time for the resumption of the IPL 2021 in mid-September in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The Tamil Nadu cricketer, who made a grand entry in international cricket during India’s Australia tour 2020-2021, has insisted that he is only focused on recovering and not on the ICC T20 World Cup 2021.

The pacer further said that he has faith in his ability, saying if he will have a great outing in the remainder of the IPL 14 in the UAE, he will get a place in India's T20 World Cup squad.

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Natarajan told the New Indian Express, “I am progressing well after the surgery. I have started training slowly. I will start bowling at full tilt in the nets by the end of this month. My focus right now is on recovering fully and returning by the time the IPL restarts.”

The COVID-19 outbreak in India led to the suspension of the IPL 2021 midway and Natarajan felt it was a blessing in disguise for him. He added, “The fact that the IPL got suspended when it did has turned out to be a good thing in the end. None of it was in my hands of course.”

The pacer signed off by saying, “I am not thinking about the T20 World Cup right now. I am thinking more about my recovery. If I do well in the IPL, the chance to be selected for the T20 World Cup will come on its own. That is my belief. But for that, my recovery needs to be spot on.”

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 06 Jul, 2021

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