CHENNAI: After struggling with multiple injury setbacks in recent years, India and Tamil Nadu left-arm pacer T Natarajan has decided to prioritise white-ball cricket.
The 33-year-old Natarajan, whose body has not been positively reacting to the rigours of multi-day cricket, last played a first-class match way back in January 2021 - his Test debut against Australia in Brisbane during India's memorable 2-1 series victory Down Under. He got three wickets in the first innings of that game, which was crucial to India's triumph.
The quick bowler attempted to make a red-ball comeback when he was named in the TN squad at the start of the previous Ranji Trophy, but had to pull out with an injury. While Natarajan is registered with TNCA first-division outfit UFCC (T Nagar) in the ongoing 2024-25 season, he is yet to make an appearance in the Raja of Palayampatti Shield.
"It has been almost four years since I played red-ball cricket (referring to first-class matches). It is not that I do not want to play red-ball cricket, but I feel that it makes my workload heavier. Right now, I am avoiding red-ball cricket," Natarajan, a key weapon for the state side in white-ball tournaments, told TOI from his hometown Salem.
"When the workload is heavy, I am having issues on my knee. So I have stopped playing," added Natarajan, who last featured in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (T20) for Tiruppur Tamizhans.
Natarajan has kept the door open for returning to multi-day cricket. "I love red-ball cricket more than white-ball cricket. Whenever I played red-ball cricket, I enjoyed it a lot. If things go to plan, I will play after a few years. If I train well for the next two years, there are chances for me to return. But right now, I am only looking at white-ball cricket."
TN will be keen to have the services of a fully-fit Natarajan for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (T20) in November-December and the Vijay Hazare Trophy (50 overs) in December-January. Natarajan was an integral part of IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad over the past few years, playing at least 11 matches in each of the last three editions.
