T Natarajan has scripted a fairytale journey to Australia amidst the Coronavirus-led pandemic. From being picked as a ‘net bowler’ after his stunning performances for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2020 to becoming the first Indian cricketer to make his debut in all three formats of the game during the same tour, the journey of Natarajan has been inspirational.
After making his ODI and T20I debuts for India earlier in the series, on Friday, Natarajan made his Test debut to script an incredible breakthrough season. Earlier, he picked two wickets on his ODI debut for India and six wickets in the three-match T20I series.
On Day 1 of the ongoing fourth Test match at the Gabba, the 29-year-old brought injury-hit India roaring back into the game by picking back-to-back wickets of Matthew Wade and the dangerous Marnus Labuschagne, who had already scored a century.
A home ground hundred to remember for @marnus3cricket! ?@hcltech | #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/ACcRzq3AiH
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 15, 2021
Australia at 200-3 looked very comfortable as Labuschagne and Matthew Wade had formed a decent partnership as they added 113 runs for the fourth wicket. However, Natarajan dismissed both the set batsmen to ensure that team India were back in the game.
Natarajan gave India a much-needed breakthrough by dismissing Matthew Wade. He bowled a short ball which hurried on to Wade, who wanted to smash it by a pull shot. However, he could only manage to top-edge it and Thakur came running in from mid-on to complete a simple catch.
In the very next over, the talented bowler struck again as he put pressure on the centurion Marnus by using his feet and attacking him.
First Test wicket for @Natarajan_91 ?.
Wade departs for 45.
Live – https://t.co/bSiJ4wW9ej #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/Q0kOX0YCmb
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 15, 2021
Playing one shot too many times, Labuschagne tried to pull a short ball and only managed to get elevation on it. The Indian wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant then just settled under it and made no mistake in grabbing the ball. The 29-year-old bowler was successful in bringing his team back into the contest single-handedly.
Meanwhile, fans on social media went into a frenzy as they lauded the Indian bowler for this achievement. From cricket experts to fans, everyone took to their social media to hail the brilliance of Natarajan.
Here, check out the reactions of Twitterati on this:
T Natarajan’s 1st Wicket
In IPL – Ajinkya Rahane
In ODI – Marnus Labuschagne
In T20I – Glenn Maxwell
In Test – Matthew Wade*#INDvsAUS #Natarajan— Harsh Kashyap (@rainfalll_) January 15, 2021
Debut test wicket for @Natarajan_91 ?
What a bowling sensation he is turn out to be. I see a lot of Chaminda Vaas variation in him with Malinga’s yorkers ? Much needed wicket for Team India after a long partnership. #AUSvIND #Natarajan
— Aravindh Ramachandran (@aravindhram) January 15, 2021
https://twitter.com/Haaaaaaaaarsh/status/1349956966857142274?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1349956966857142274%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportskeeda.com%2Fcricket%2Fnews-everything-just-fire-twitter-erupts-twin-strikes-t-natarajan-brings-team-india-back-game
Damn this Indian Team!! They keep crawling back in the game.. They wouldn’t go down easily without putting up a fight. Well done #Natarajan #AUSvIND
— NoMad (@DrAruru20) January 15, 2021
There is something with #Natarajan ???? #AUSvIND
— Pragyan Ojha (@pragyanojha) January 15, 2021
https://twitter.com/DhfmRohii/status/1349961048032333827?s=20
https://twitter.com/farjicricketer/status/1349959655900889088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1349959655900889088%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportskeeda.com%2Fcricket%2Fnews-everything-just-fire-twitter-erupts-twin-strikes-t-natarajan-brings-team-india-back-game
even pant had heart in his mouth before taking marnus catch #Natarajan #INDvAUS #AUSvIND https://t.co/nVjjtvB67C
— ?.?.?.?.? ?? (@karjunr) January 15, 2021
The dream keeps getting better for #Natarajan
2 wickets to bring #India back in the game. #TimPaine walks in under pressure after #SCG performance.
With new ball around the corner its quite possible couple of more wickets before end of the day #AUSvIND— Vikash Mishra (@MishraVikash) January 15, 2021
In last month Labuschagne became Natarajan’s 1st ODI wicket and today Lanuschagne became Natarajan’s 2nd Test wicket..#INDvAUS #Natarajan
— Amal Sudhakaran (@amal_sachinism) January 15, 2021
Natarajan changing the game here, he gets Wade and Labuschagne in back to back overs – both set batsman are back in the dressing room. Great job, Nattu. When life gives you opportunities use it like #nattu #Natarajan #Washingtonsundar #INDvAUS
— shreyas sridharan (ஸ்ரேயஸ் ஸ்ரீதரன்) (@shreyas236) January 15, 2021