WATCH: T Natarajan sends timely reminder to selectors with terrific performance in TNPL 2024

Out of favour Indian bowler T Natarajan has been in top form during the ongoing Tamil Nadu Premier League. The 33-year-old has lost his place in the Indian team due to injuries and the emergence of bowlers like Arshdeep Singh and Khaleel Ahmed. 

After years of fitness, the Tamil Nadu pacer has finally started to show his form earned him the India cap. In the 7 games that he has played for Tiruppur so far, Natarajan has picked 12 wickets. His best performance was the 4/36 he took against Nellai.

With 12 wickets from 7 matches, Nattu has been in his elements for Tiruppur. Can he tackle the Ash challenge tonight?#TNPLonFanCode @TNPremierLeague @Natarajan_91 pic.twitter.com/tXnUQOV2sK

— FanCode (@FanCode) August 2, 2024

Natarajan has so far played one Test, two ODI matches, and four T20I games for India. His last match for the Indian team came in 2021 against England during an ODI match which was played in Pune. 

T. Natarajan pushing hard for come-back bid 

Veteran pace bowler T. Natarajan began the Tamil Nadu Premier League with 2/36 in the game against Kovai. His wickets that day included the big-hitting Shah Rukh KMhan for 55 and Mohammed for a duck. 

In the next game versus Chepauk, he picked just a single wicket while going wicketless against Dindigul. His 2/30 against Salem helped his side win the game by a huge margin where he dismissed Mohammad Adnan Khan and Poiyamozhi. 

This was followed by his best-ever performance against Nellai where he picked 4/36 from his 4 overs. His wickets that day included Arun Karthik, Nidhish Rajagopal, Sonu Yadav, and Lakshay Jain. 

The good form for Natarajan continued in the next game versus Trichy where he picked 3/6 from three overs. All these constant wicket-taking feats will not be lost on the Indian selectors. With Gautam Gambhir having mentioned the need for workload management, the Indian selectors will be looking to give Natarajan yet another chance. 

The left-arm pacer will next take on Dindigul Dragons who beat the fancied Chepauk Super Gillies. That win in the eliminator game meant that the Dindigul side take on Tirippur who had lost the first qualifier. 

Tirippur will hope that T Natarajan can keep his good form for his team and pick a few more wickets. When he is in form there is no better bowler than the 33-year-old as he can bowl good Yorkers and outfox the batters with slower balls. Can he make a return to the Indian team with so much cricket around? It is something that one has to wait and watch.