Ahmedabad: The good news is that India are confident ahead of the fifth T20I against England. Kaiyan pacer T Natarajan has returned to the team after recovering from injury. With this, Natarajan will also be available in the selection list for the fifth T20. But it remains to be seen whether Natarajan, who arrives after an injury rest in the crucial fifth match, will be ready to play.
India and England currently share a 2-2 draw in the five-match T20 series. England won the first match and India won the second. England won the third match and India won the fourth. The result of the fifth match decides the winner of the series. Therefore, India is likely to retain the team for the fourth match.
Yorker specialist T Natarajan will be able to stop the flow of runs in the middle overs and death overs and take wickets. But when Natarajan arrives, Shardul Thakur will have to leave. Shardul Thakur, who can also bat at the tail end, gave India the victory in the fourth match. In this scenario, it is unlikely that Natarajan will replace Shardul in the squad.
Natarajan has not played since the Test series against Australia. He was left out of the Test series against England. Natarajan was trying to regain his fitness at the National Cricket Academy after his injury was confirmed ahead of the T20 series. T Natarajan is currently the only pacer in the Indian team.
Natarajan made a remarkable performance for India in the series against Australia. He went net bowler and made his debut in all three formats. He took 6 wickets in 3 T20s. His performance was in the 7-run economy. With the T20 World Cup looming, Bumra, Bhuvi and Natarajan are expected to team up for India.
Natarajan, who emerged from the Tamil Nadu Premier League, said the IPL is crucial for him. If Natarajan, the star of Sunrisers Hyderabad, can repeat his success this time around, he will be able to secure a place in the Indian team for the T20 World Cup.