T Natarajan has to do a lot to gain success in Tests: Irfan Pathan

Former pacer Irfan Pathan opines that Natarajan has a lot to do for stable success in the game's purest format. The bowler from Tamil Nadu had an impressive debut in Australia. He also raised hopes of India getting a left-arm pacer in their bowling department. India's pace attack has grown in tremendous strides over the last few years. However, they still lack a quality left-arm pacer in the squad. Natarajan has had an outstanding start to his career but he needs to improve in the red-ball format.

The southpaw scalped two wickets on his ODI debut and six wickets in the three-match T20I series against Australia. T Natarajan scripted history by becoming the first Indian player to debut in all three formats of the game. Natarajan was brought in the squad as a replacement of Jasprit Bumrah in the fourth Test at the Brisbane Cricket Ground. The left-arm pacer stunned everyone in the most extended format of the game too as he claimed three wickets to help India win the series decider Test.

Irfan Pathan believes that T Natarajan can become one of the best Test bowlers. Being a left-armer himself, Pathan knows that a left-armer's delivery angle can be confusing for the right-hand batsman. 

T Natarajan needs to focus more on his fitness: Pathan

Pathan pointed out the importance of fitness for a fast bowler in the most extended format of cricket. He feels that if Natarajan wants to have a long career, he needs to work more on his fitness. The 36-year-old believes Natarajan should remain to his basics but also be open to modifications. Pathan is optimistic that the Indian team management will help the pacer become a better bowler in the international circuit.

T Natarajan has only featured in one test match for India, but he played his part in India's historic win in the 2020 Border-Gavaskar series. Even though he has not been included in the Indian squad for the first two Tests against England, he could have a role to play in the ODI format. Considering the T20 World Cup to be played in a few months, the 29-year-old is going to have a busy year ahead.

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