Everyone was asking questions when I picked T Natarajan in KXIP squad: Virender Sehwag

Tamil Nadu pacer T Natarajan was picked by Kings XI Punjab in IPL 2017 season after he had a brilliant TNPL season that year.

Natarajan got to play 6 IPL games and went on to pick only two wickets, thus raising questions on his inclusion in the team.

Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag was picked as KXIP’s head of cricket operations at that point in time.

The legendary opener disclosed that there were many questions raised by critics for Natarajan’s inclusion in KXIP’s team.

“I was very happy because when I had picked Natarajan in the IPL for the Kings XI Punjab, everyone was asking questions that this player has come who has not even played domestic cricket and came after playing just the TNPL league, so how he was picked at such a huge price,” Sehwag told Sony Sports Network.

“I was not bothered about the money but there is a talent. We had a few Tamil Nadu players in our team at the time who told me that he is a very good player who bowls very well in the slog overs and delivers a perfect yorker.”

KXIP went on to win only seven matches in that IPL season and managed to take the fifth slot on the points table, failing to qualify for the playoffs. Though Natarajan picked just two wickets in the six games he played in that season, he played a crucial role in KXIP’s victories.

“I saw his videos and then decided that we will surely take him at the auction because we did not have a death bowler. Unfortunately, that year, he had an injury to the elbow or the knee because of which he could not play too many matches. But we won only the matches that he played in and lost all the other matches.”

“So I was very excited to see that he was getting an opportunity although I was thinking that he would be given a chance in the T20Is but it was a surprise for me that he was played in the ODIs. But whatever happened was good. All the best to T Natarajan. I hope that he keeps on doing well from here and makes his place in the Indian team,” Sehwag concluded.

Source: clcik here