India and Tamil Nadu left-hander T Natarajan has decided to make a significant change in his career at the age of 33, opting to focus exclusively on white-ball cricket due to persistent injury problems.

T Natarajan has faced numerous setbacks that have disrupted his progress in red-ball cricket. His last appearance in Test cricket was a memorable debut for India in January 2021 against Australia, where he played a key role in India’s historic series win.

T Natarajan embraces white-ball cricket, but suspends red-ball comeback

However, the physical demands of red-ball cricket have proven too taxing for T Natarajan, forcing him to re-evaluate his career path. Despite his previous ambitions to return to first-class cricket, including a brief stint with Tamil Nadu for the Ranji Trophy, Natarajan has struggled with recurring injuries.

The fast bowler recently registered with UFCC (T Nagar) for the ongoing 2024-25 season but is yet to make his mark in the Raja of Palayampatti Shield tournament. Well, Natarajan has candidly acknowledged that the increased workload and strain on his knee have been major factors behind his decision to step away from red-ball cricket.

Instead, his focus is on honing his skills and utilising his energy in white-ball cricket. His last appearance in a major white-ball competition was in the Tamil Nadu Premier League for Tiruppur Tamizhans, where he showed his great potential.

As he begins a new chapter in his career, T Natarajan is aiming to remain a key player in limited-overs cricket, hoping this strategic shift will allow him to continue contributing at the highest level while managing his fitness.

I have knee problems: Natarajan

Natarajan told the Times of India: “It has been almost four years since I played red-ball cricket (referring to first-class matches). It is not that I don’t want to play red-ball cricket, but I feel it makes my workload heavier. Right now, I am avoiding red-ball cricket. When the workload is heavy, I get problems with my knee. That is why I have stopped playing.”

However, T Natarajan has not completely closed the door on a return to Test cricket. He has expressed deep affection for red-ball cricket, saying that he has always enjoyed playing red-ball matches. While his current focus is solely on white-ball formats due to ongoing injury issues, the player remains hopeful of a comeback in the future.

He wants to devote himself to rigorous training over the next few years, with the possibility of returning to the red-ball if his condition improves. He will be seen in action in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

T Natarajan concluded by saying, “I like red-ball cricket more than white-ball cricket. Whenever I played red-ball cricket, I enjoyed it a lot. If everything goes as planned, I will play in a few years. If I train well for the next two years, there are chances that I will come back. But right now, I am only thinking about white-ball cricket.”