New role, same old Natarajan: Pacer bounces back from setbacks to make mark in TNPL

Just under a decade ago, the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) unearthed a raw, uncut gem in T. Natarajan. A left-arm seamer from interior Salem, his ability to nail yorkers at will made him a rare and valuable commodity in Indian cricket —particularly in a subcontinent not known for producing such bowlers.

In his debut TNPL season, Natarajan impressed with nine wickets, including a crucial three-for that set tongues wagging across the domestic circuit. His calm demeanor belied the venom in his deliveries.

In the ongoing TNPL season, the 34-year-old has taken on a new challenge. Now donning the Tiruppur Tamizhans jersey, Natarajan has been entrusted with a fresh role — sharing the new ball up front. It’s a shift that’s paid rich dividends — helping his team, led by R. Sai Kishore, book a place in the final.

A New Role, A Familiar Rhythm

For those who’ve long associated Natarajan with death overs and last-gasp yorkers, his new-ball duties may come as a surprise but not to him.

“This is the first time I’m bowling with the new ball in the TNPL,” he explains. “But I have done it before for Tamil Nadu in limited-overs matches. I have the ability to perform with the new ball, in contrast to what you all have seen in the IPL.”

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The role change, he says, was a call made by the team management. “It’s been working out well so far. I know I can bowl even better up front but this is just the start,” he adds.

T. Natarajan burst onto the scene with the TNPL in 2016.
| Photo Credit:
B. Jothi Ramalingam/The Hindu

So far, the numbers back him. Nine wickets in eight matches, an economy rate of 6.35—a miserly figure in the T20 format—showcase his ability to adapt. But for Natarajan, the real gain lies in the learning.

“Experience is gained through playing enough matches,” he says. “But even the most experienced bowlers will have some sort of pressure while bowling. Especially in a format like T20. Even in TNPL, I feel the pressure to deliver. That’s the undeniable fact.”

The tournament, he says, has given him the space to experiment. “It’s allowed me to try out new things,” he adds.

Through the Fire, Again and Again

If Natarajan’s cricketing story feels cinematic, the injury reel is the dramatic subplot.

In 2021, a knee injury ruled him out of the IPL and effectively cost him a place in India’s T20 World Cup squad. Fitness issues continued to dog him, the most recent being a serious collarbone injury that forced him out of most of the latest IPL season.

“It was a potential career-ending injury,” he says matter-of-factly. “A part of my bone behind the left collar bone broke while I was in practice. I was advised not to undergo surgery and that delayed my recovery.”

The road back was slow and painstaking.

“For the first few weeks, all I could do was concentrate on my lower body as I had a support belt to restrict movement. It took almost seven months for me to resume proper practice. I’d like to thank the Delhi Capitals management, who took good care of me during that testing period,” he recalls.

But there’s no bitterness—only a sense of perspective, honed over years of battling setbacks.

“Injuries are a familiar part of life for me as a fast bowler, often striking at crucial career moments. Yet, I’ve become mentally accustomed to them. My love for the game fuels my quick recovery and return,” he says, flashing a quirky smile.

Grounded in Purpose

Off the field, Natarajan wears another hat—that of a mentor. He has opened a cricket academy in his hometown, offering underprivileged youngsters the kind of access he never had growing up.

Becoming a full-time coach, though, isn’t on his radar just yet.

“Currently, I’m not planning to be a full-time coach. My focus is on maintaining my hometown ground and mentoring local, underprivileged kids, sharing my experiences with them. While a suitable coaching offer could change things, my career remains my priority for now,” he clarifies.

It’s a philosophy rooted in quiet conviction.

“The thought of people forgetting me has never crossed my mind,” he says. “Nowadays, people have a lot of different problems. They tend to forget even the familiar faces. I just focus on my job and everything else will follow. We’ve got just one life to live, so let’s live it on our terms without harming anyone else.”

At 34, being Natarajan and continuing to do what he does constantly could be fatiguing. But the concept of retirement though, doesn’t bother him as he wants to make as many memories as possible.