IPL 2022: Ravi Shastri calls SRH's T Natarajan death-over specialist, says India missed him in T20 World Cup

Mumbai: Former coach Ravi Shastri has hailed T Natarajan as a death bowling specialist, saying the Indian team missed the left-arm pacer sorely during its T20 World Cup debacle in UAE. Natarajan, who came to limelight in India’s historic Test series win Down Under in early 2021, suffered a knee injury and missed most part of the year before making a comeback in Sunrisers Hyderabad’s second match of the IPL-15 here on Monday. [caption id=“attachment_10517801” align=“alignnone” width=“640”]  T. Natarajan of the Sunrisers Hyderabad celebrates after taking the wicket of KL Rahul, captain of Lucknow Super Giants during match 12 of the TATA Indian Premier League 2022 (IPL season 15) between the Sunrisers Hyderabad and the Lucknow Super Giants held at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai on the 4th April 2022. Photo by Rahul Gulati / Sportzpics for IPL[/caption] “Very happy for him. We missed him in the World Cup. He would’ve been a certainty had he been fit,” Shastri said in ESPNCricinfo’s ‘T20 Time:Out’. India had made a heartbreaking group stage exit in the T20 World Cup in 2021. “He got injured against England when we were playing the ODI series and we really missed him (in the World Cup).” “He’s that specialist death bowler, bowls those yorkers very skilfully. He’s got great control. He is skiddy. A bit quicker than you think and hits the bat,” Shastri said. The 31-year-old, who was bought back by SRH for Rs 4 crore, made a fine comeback after 12 months, picking 2 for 26 from his full quota of four overs, even as they suffered their second defeat on the trot with a 12-run loss. Shastri was the head coach when the left-arm pacer made his debut for India across the three formats in their memorable 2020-21 tour to Australia. The former coach said Natarajan was a lucky charm for them. “Every game I’ve picked him we’ve won. In his debut in T20, India won. In his debut in Test cricket, India won. From a net bowler, he played those other two formats,” Shastri said. SRH will next face defending champions Chennai Super Kings on 9 April. Read all the  Latest News**,**  Trending News**,**  Cricket News**,**  IPl Live Score Update,  Latest IPL Schedule 2022 , and ,  IPl 2022 Points table Entertainment News here. Follow us on  Facebook,  Twitter and  Instagram.