A Comeback Story: T. Natarajan’s Journey Back to Form
Delhi Capitals (DC) left-arm fast bowler T. Natarajan has spoken about his journey back to form, highlighting the impact of a rigorous six-month training regime on his performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. The 31-year-old cricketer has been working hard to regain his bowling rhythm and ability to deliver high-velocity yorkers. He expressed that his confidence is at an all-time high, and he is pleased with how things have been going so far.
Natarajan, who has faced several injuries in recent years, has taken four wickets in three games during the current IPL season, maintaining an economy rate of 7.9. He reflected on the challenges he faced last year when he suffered a collarbone injury, which was a tough period for him. However, he credited the team management, support staff, and coaches for their constant motivation and guidance.
“I attended multiple camps in Delhi, Surat, Hyderabad, and Dubai, and all of that helped me gain rhythm and confidence again. Coming back after injury is never easy, both mentally and physically. Every time I was doing well, unfortunately, an injury came in the way,” he said.
Over the past six to seven months, Natarajan has focused intensely on his fitness and bowling skills. He has spent a lot of time practising to get back to his yorkers and regain his rhythm. His confidence is now at its peak, and he is happy with the progress he has made.
Tactical Clarity in Modern T20 Cricket
Reflecting on the evolution of T20 bowling, Natarajan emphasized the importance of tactical clarity ahead of execution. “Cricket has changed a lot, and batters are much smarter now. They prepare very well and plan against bowlers. So for me, clarity of plans is the most important thing. I need to know what I want to execute in every situation. Even if I get hit, if my plans are clear, I back myself to deliver,” he added.
Known for his expertise with yorkers, Natarajan revealed that he used a mix of tennis and red-ball training to refine his lengths. This approach was inspired by advice from veteran India and Royal Challengers Bengaluru seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
“I have played tennis-ball cricket since childhood, and that has helped me a lot. To improve my execution, I practised with tennis balls, weighted balls, and red balls. I also discussed with Bhuvneshwar Kumar earlier, and he suggested practising with the red ball slowly to improve length control. That has helped me a lot in improving my bowling.”
A Strong Bowling Attack
Natarajan also praised the overall performance of the Delhi Capitals’ bowling attack. “Our bowling attack has been performing really well. We have world-class spinners and quality pacers in the group. Mukesh Kumar, our spinners – everyone is contributing,” he concluded.
Key Highlights from Natarajan’s Interview
- Natarajan credits a six-month training regime for regaining his bowling rhythm.
- He has taken four wickets in three games in IPL 2026 with an economy rate of 7.9.
- Injuries have been a recurring challenge, but he remains confident in his abilities.
- He emphasizes the importance of tactical clarity in modern T20 cricket.
- Natarajan uses a combination of tennis and red-ball training to refine his lengths.
- He acknowledges the contributions of Delhi Capitals’ bowling unit, including spinners and pacers.
