Srinagar: Former India batter Sunil Gavaskar has said that pacer T Natarajan should have been included in Team India T20 World Cup 2024 squad.
India announced the squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 in USA and West Indies.
In a chat with India Today, Gavaskar lauded the Natarajan’s performances in the IPL and said that he could’ve been in the team.
“I was thinking more like T Natarajan, the left-arm pacer bowler. He has been bowling extremely well. So, I thought maybe he could have been in the team. But that’s okay. I think the seam bowlers that they have got, they all have experience. So no problem with that,” he said.
While Natarajan’s absence was a shock to many, Hardik Pandya’s retention as vice-captain of the 15-member squad also left a few baffled.
“There’s a big difference playing in the IPL and playing for your country. Playing for your country brings out something different in every player and Hardik Pandya will be a different player,” said Gavaskar on Sports Today.
“He’s had to face a lot of issues in this particular tournament (IPL), he’s handled it quite well. When he goes overseas and has to play for India, I think he will be in a completely different frame of mind.
“And that’s going to be a much more positive frame of mind than maybe what we have seen here in this tournament. So, Hardik Pandya will make a contribution with both bat and ball in this tournament,” added Gavaskar.