India vs Australia – similarities between Bumrah and Natarajan: Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag on Friday came up with five massive similarities between Indian pacers Jasprit Bumrah and T. Natarajan which left everyone stunned.
After India defeated Australia by 11 runs in the opening T20I, Sehwag took to his social media accounts and pointed out a series of similarities between Natarajan’s ODI and T20I debuts with that of Bumrah.
Here are the five stunning similarities:
- Both the cricketers made their ODI and T20I debut against Australia in Australia. While Bumrah burst into the international scene during India’s 2015-16 tour of Australia, Natarajan’s debut happened five seasons later.
- The second similarity is rather stunning – both players were not first choices – they were replacements. While Bumrah replaced Mohammad Shami who had picked up an injury, while Natarajan made his ODI debut after Bumrah was rested for the final match as the tourists had already lost the series.
- It is also surprising that both the cricketers made their ODI debut in the last match of the three-match ODI series and that happened to be the only match India won. When Bumrah made his debut, India won the match by six runs and two balls to spare. In Natarajan’s case, India won the final ODI by 13 runs.
- Both the cricketers picked up two wickets in their ODI debut. While Bumrah returned with figures of 40 runs in 10 overs, Natarajan was on the expensive side as he conceded 70 runs in his quota of 10 overs.
- Bumrah and Natarajan have also picked up three wickets in their maiden T20I match. On his T20I debut, Bumrah conceded 23 runs and picked up three wickets in Adelaide. Natarajan on the other hand got three wickets in his four-overs spell which giving 30 runs.
- Meanwhile, the fairy tale journey of T.Natrajan is continuing. From obscurity to first sensational IPL 2020 and now successful debut games with both India’s ODI & T20 teams, without any doubt the India pacer T. Natarajan is having the time of his life.
After a brilliant ODI debut, the left-arm bowler made a remarkable T20I debut and bagged three wickets against Australia in the opening T20I which the Men in Blue won by 11 runs to take 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Natarajan picked three wickets for 30 runs from his four to help India defend 162-run target. Interestingly, the Tamil Nadu pacer received his T20I debut cap from Bumrah.
Notably, Natarajan recently made his ODI debut in the third game against Australia at the Manuka Oval in Canberra and India skipper Virat Kohli handed the cap to the 29-year-old bowler before the match. In his debut game, he returned figures of 2-70 in his ten overs including a maiden.
Sehwag believes even if Natarajan can be anywhere close to being as effective as Bumrah has been, India will have a lethal fast bowling attack.