AUS vs IND: Hardik Pandya dedicates his Man of the Series award to T Natarajan
Though the Indian team registered a defeat against Australia by 12 runs at Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday in the final T20 International, they managed to clinch the series by 2-1. The left-arm fast-medium bowler from Salem, Thangarasu Natarajan emerged as the biggest revelation for India in the limited-overs format.
Natarajan’s sudden rise to prominence in the international circuit is nothing less than a fairytale and luck played a big role in his journey. After a brilliant run in the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2020), Natarajan was named as the net bowler for India tour of Australia. However, the axing of spinner Varun Chakravarthy from the tour due to an injury meant that the selectors decided to add the pacer to the main squad.
T Natarajan impresses the cricket fraternity with his disciplined bowling
After a tight and disciplined bowling display in his debut ODI match, the 29-year-old got his maiden T20I cap during the first T20 international against Australia in Canberra. In that game, Natrajan scalped three wickets of D’Arcy Short, Glenn Maxwell, and Mitchell Starc. Natarajan ended the first three-match T20I series of his career with 6 wickets at an economy rate of 6.91. He was arguably the best pacer throughout the T20I series.
Hardik Pandya was adjudged the Man of the Series award for his match-defining knock of unbeaten 42 runs off 22 deliveries in the second game. However, just after receiving the prestigious Trophy, Hardik handed over his award to Natarajan. The same gesture was repeated by Indian skipper Virat Kohli too who had given the series Trophy to the debutant while posing for the winning picture.
Hardik also took to his official Twitter handle to shower praises on Natarajan for a wonderful series against Australia, here is the tweet.
Natarajan, you were outstanding this series. To perform brilliantly in difficult conditions on your India debut speaks volumes of your talent and hardwork ? You deserve Man of the Series from my side bhai! Congratulations to #TeamIndia on the win ??? pic.twitter.com/gguk4WIlQD
— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) December 8, 2020
