New Delhi: Indian left-arm fast bowler T Natarajan has been dropped from the Tamil Nadu squad for the upcoming edition of the Vijay Hazare Trophy at the request of the BCCI, a TNCA official said on Thursday (February 11).
The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) released the 29-year-old to keep him fresh for India’s upcoming limited-overs series. Reportedly he will now be practicing in the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore. R S Jaganath Sinivas will replace Natarajan in the 20-member squad which will leave for Indore on February 13.
The BCCI and the Indian team management wanted Natarajan to be fresh for the white ball leg of the series against England. Keeping the Indian team’s interests in mind we said yes,” Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) secretary R S Ramasaamy told PTI. Natarajan was earlier included in the Tamil Nadu squad for the tournament beginning February 20. Tamil Nadu had recently won the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in Ahmedabad.
Natarajan, who went to Australia as a replacement for injured spinner Varun Chakravarthy in the T20I squad, impressed one and all with his performance in the ODIs and T20Is before picking 3 wickets in his maiden Test in Brisbane. He had become the first Indian cricketer to make his international debut across all three formats during the tour of Australia.
After making his debut in Australia tour he hasn’t been picked for the Test series against England. After the red-ball fixtures, India will also play five T20Is and three ODIs, starting March 12 in Ahmedabad while the first ODI will take place in Pune on March 23.
