India do not produce a plethora of left-arm pacers as Australia and Pakistan does. Hence, when an LAP delivers in India, it’s important to back him and give him the confidence for a longer future. This article focusses upon the journey of Indian left-arm pacers and why Natarajan is different and deserves a longer future.
IRFAN PATHAN & R.P. SINGH
When the T20Is came into existence, India had Irfan Pathan and R. P. Singh in the squad. Both lead to an amazing success for Team India as they triumphed in the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007. But both did not long last thereafter and disappeared off the radar.
Both the pacers played their last T20I game in 2009. Irfan Pathan made a comeback almost 3 years later but R. P. Singh’s journey had ended in 2009.
One can just imagine how successful they could have been had they got more matches and played till the T20 World Cup 2016. This is purely considering that Irfan is 36 years old and Singh is 35 as of year 2020. So it wasn’t the age why they went out of preference but merely the problem with the Indian selectors not wanting to back players.
ZAHEER KHAN
Zaheer Khan was India’ go-to option to Tests and ODIs, hence used to be rested in the T20 series. He became a regular feature only from 2009. But his career wasn’t long either. Just like Irfan Pathan, his T20 career ended in 2012.
But in his case, age was a little factor as he was 34 when he played his last game.
ASHISH NEHRA, BARINDER SRAN, JAYDEV UNADKAT & KHALEEL AHMED
Ashish Nehra also started in 2009 just like Zaheer. He played his last game in 2011 and went out of favour for 5 years. It was his breakthrough season in IPL 2015 that saw him getting picked for India’s WT20 squad in 2016.
Once the T20 World Cup was over, he played a few games and retired thus leaving India void of an LAP again.
Barinder Sran was subject to the same treatment from the Indian selectors. He had a decent IPL 2016 and saw him making the Indian squad for a series against Zimbabwe later. Once the series got over, he did not get a single game.
Jaydev Unadkat had a couple of good IPL seasons, one in 2013 and the other one in 2017. He made his T20I debut in 2016 and played until 2018. But he too was dropped based on his bad non-T20I performances.
Khaleel Ahmed entered the frame and became the next victim of India’s poor selection policies and lack of trust. He had a stellar IPL season like Nehra & Barinder, and saw himself making it through to the squad on a full time basis thereafter.
He did not have a good run in the T20Is and disappeared just like all the previous LAP.
THANGARASU NATARAJAN
Yes! Exactly as every one else would hope, I am hopeful too that he won’t get the same treatment and would travel in the same direction as the past LAPs.
Natarajan has had a decent IPL 2020 and has shown enough promise in the T20I series so far.
The reason why Natarajan could end up having a longer career is that he is a different LAP than all the previous players to have played for India in T20s. While all the previous bowlers have banked upon swing with the new ball and change of pace, Natarajan takes the pitch out of equation by banking upon yorkers.
When the pitch offers some grip, he is quick to adjust and bowl cutters. The only thing one can be afraid of is that the selectors will drop him the day when he starts missing his yorkers and ends up missing his mark.
OBSERVATIONS
The inability of the Indian selectors and captains to back bowlers is well known from many many years. They do not trust them enough. One bad series and they become out of favour.
This happens with a batter, India might still get away with it because of the sheer number of talented batters they possess. But the same treatment could prove expensive when such a skill is already a rarity.
India do not have many left-arm pacers, so even if someone gets hit, it’s important for that player to be backed regardlessly.
The trend is very clear:
- Good IPL season – Earn a call-up to the national side
- 1-2 bad T20I series – Get dropped
Cricket Strategist 