Former India captain Kris Srikkanth has stirred up debate around T Natarajan’s continued association with Sunrisers Hyderabad, suggesting the left-arm pacer’s workload and fitness record do not justify the franchise’s faith in him. While acknowledging that rejoining SRH makes sense for Natarajan personally, Srikkanth did not hold back in questioning why the management persisted with a bowler who has struggled for consistency in recent seasons.
Speaking on the matter, Srikkanth pointed out that Natarajan’s annual workload remains remarkably low, noting that the pacer effectively plays cricket for barely 40 days a year once domestic commitments, India duty, and IPL appearances are added together. According to him, this limited exposure to competitive cricket makes it difficult for Natarajan to maintain rhythm, sharpness, and match fitness, which has been visible in his recent performances for both India and SRH.
Fitness and Form Under the Scanner
Natarajan, who first caught attention with his death-bowling skills and yorker precision during India’s tour of Australia, has since battled injury layoffs and inconsistent returns with the ball. CricketBuzz understands that SRH’s think tank still views him as a valuable bench option for his experience in executing tough overs, even though his recent IPL outings have not reflected his earlier sharpness. Srikkanth’s comments add to a growing conversation about how franchises balance potential against present form while finalising retentions.
For Natarajan, the challenge now will be translating this fresh opportunity into consistent performances and silencing critics who feel his workload management has come at the cost of rhythm. As CricketBuzz reported earlier this season, SRH’s bowling unit will be closely watched in the upcoming campaign, and Natarajan’s role could prove pivotal if he manages to rediscover his best form. Stay with CricketBuzz for more updates as the squad combinations and player workloads come further into focus ahead of the new season.
📊 Live cricket scores, ball-by-ball commentary & match predictions on CricketBuzz — Live Scores, Match Predictions & Dream11, Cricket News.
