Why T Natarajan Has Halted His Red-Ball Cricket Career

India’s left-arm pacer T Natarajan, who played a key role in the team’s historic win during the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, has revealed that he has stepped away from red-ball cricket due to workload concerns. The 33-year-old, who made his Test debut in that series and hasn’t played a first-class match since, cited recurring knee issues as the reason for his decision.

“It has been almost four years since I played red-ball cricket. The heavy workload is taking a toll on my knee, so I’ve had to stop playing,” Natarajan told *The Times of India*. Despite this, he expressed his love for the format and hopes to return after two years if his body allows.

For now, Natarajan is focusing on white-ball cricket, where he has made a mark in the IPL 2024, taking 19 wickets for Sunrisers Hyderabad. He has also represented India in two ODIs and four T20Is.