• T Natarajan made an impressive debut for India in 3rd ODI against Australia.

  • Natarajan picked up two wickets in his maiden game.

AUS vs IND: T Natarajan impresses everyone with his brilliant ODI debut
T Natarajan (Image Source: @Natarajan_91)

India avoided the clean sweep against Australia after they defeated the hosts by 13 runs in the final One Day International (ODI) of the three-match series at Manuka Oval in Canberra on Wednesday (December 02).

Unlike the first two ODIs, the Virat Kohli-led side performed well in all the three departments to outplay the home team. And that’s the reason India had several heroes like Hardik Pandya, captain Kohli himself, Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur in Wednesday’s victory.

Apart from the abovementioned players, the debutant T Natarajan also showed plenty of confidence as he finished the contest with a couple of wickets to his name. Ahead of the match, the Tamil Nadu bowler was given his India cap by none other than the leader of the team, Kohli.

Watch the video here:

No wonder, Natarajan did everything possible to justify the decision of team management that his pick in the final XI was worthy enough.

The left-arm pacer provided the first breakthrough to the visiting side after he dismissed Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne.

It all happened in the sixth over of Australia’s chase when Natarajan bowled a nip-backer which went through the defence of Labuschagne. It was indeed a special moment for the ‘Chinnappampatti Express’ as he bagged his maiden wicket in international cricket.

Here is the video:

He’s got a big character: Shardul Thakur on Natarajan

During the game, Natarajan was taken to cleaners when Glenn Maxwell smashed him for 18 runs in the 43rd over. However, soon he made a strong comeback and conceded just four runs in the 46th and four more in the 48th over. During which, the left-armer also got rid of lower-order batsman Ashton Agar.

The ability of Natarajan to bounce back in the contest impressed Shardul Thakur as the latter reckoned that India ‘need players like Natarajan’.

“He’s good. He’s done well in the IPL. He came back pretty well in this game, that shows he’s got a big character, and we need players like this – who can keep coming back,” said Thakur as quoted by Cricbuzz.

“In white-ball formats, you are going to get hit as a bowler. But what’s important is you come back, you bowl again, develop that confidence and take it forward from there,” he added.

TAGS:

CATEGORY: India T Natarajan

For latest cricket news and updates, subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter.

About the Author:
Akshat is the Sr. Content Strategist at CricketTimes.com. With a passion for storytelling and a keen eye for detail, Akshat has honed his skills over 6 years, working with various media outlets, publications, and organizations to deliver high-quality content that informs, educates, and entertains audiences. He is just another cricket fan who’s grown up watching the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. Cricket runs in his veins. Cover drive is his favorite sight, and a ball meeting the middle of the bat is his favorite sound. You can write to him at akshat.gaur@crickettimes.com and follow him on Twitter, Facebook & Linkedin.