TNCA releases Natarajan from Vijay Hazare Trophy squad for India duties

Fast bowler T Natarajan won’t be available for the upcoming edition of the Vijay Hazare Trophy to be played from February 20 to March 14. The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) released the 29-year-old to keep him fresh for India’s upcoming assignments. He will now be going to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore for training.

After making his debut in the tour of Australia, Natarajan wasn’t picked for the Test series against England. After the red-ball fixtures, India will also play five T20Is and three ODIs starting March 12. The move to release him has been made to keep the pacer afresh for the limited-overs series.

We have released T Natarajan: TNCA secretary

“The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the team management want him fresh. It is in the national interest. And so we are ready to oblige. We had named a replacement should he be not available, and that issue has been sorted out. We have released Natarajan,” S Ramasamy, the TNCA secretary, said.

Last month, he became the first Indian bowler to make his debut in all three formats on the same tour. He played the last ODI at the Manuka Oval in Canberra after which he was India’s star performer in the T20I series.

I was elated, ecstatic and extremely surprised by the reception at my hometown ,Chinnappampatti. Thanks a ton for the love and support.???? pic.twitter.com/wbm3SQ2Y23

— Natarajan (@Natarajan_91) February 2, 2021

The fact that Jasprit Bumrah missed the last Test in Brisbane ensured Natarajan made his Test debut as well. Earlier, Natarajan talked about how emotional he became when Indian skipper Virat Kohli handed him the T20 trophy.

“When Kohli handed over the trophy to me after the T20 series win, I had tears in my eyes,” Natarajan had said. After he returned from the tour of Australia, the fast bowler got a grand reception in his hometown.