T Natarajan
Role: Bowler
DOB: 27 May 1991
IPL Team (2026): Sunrisers Hyderabad
Base Price: Retained by SRH (Auction 2025)
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IPL CAREER STATISTICS (Updated April 2026)
Batting & Fielding
| Year | Mat | Inn | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | BF | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s | CT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | 95 | 10 | 3 | 19 | 8* | 2.71 | 20 | 95.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| 2026 | 8 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 |
| 2025 | 10 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2 |
| 2024 | 14 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 3 |
| 2023 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4* | 4.00 | 4 | 100.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2022 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1.50 | 3 | 100.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2021 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 1 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 8* | 5.00 | 10 | 100.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2017 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2* | 2.00 | 2 | 100.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Bowling
| Year | Mat | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | Avg | Econ | SR | 4W | 5W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | 95 | 2100 | 3188 | 108 | 4/28 | 29.52 | 9.10 | 19.44 | 1 | 0 |
| 2026 | 8 | 192 | 304 | 9 | 2/20 | 33.78 | 9.50 | 21.33 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 10 | 240 | 368 | 12 | 3/25 | 30.67 | 9.20 | 20.00 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 14 | 336 | 513 | 19 | 4/28 | 27.00 | 9.17 | 17.68 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 | 12 | 264 | 393 | 10 | 2/23 | 39.30 | 8.93 | 26.40 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 11 | 240 | 378 | 18 | 3/10 | 21.00 | 9.45 | 13.33 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 2 | 48 | 67 | 2 | 1/32 | 33.50 | 8.37 | 24.00 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 16 | 384 | 513 | 16 | 2/29 | 32.06 | 8.01 | 24.00 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | 6 | 108 | 165 | 2 | 1/28 | 82.50 | 9.16 | 54.00 | 0 | 0 |
The Story of T Natarajan
From the dusty grounds of Chinnappampatti, a small village in Salem, Tamil Nadu, rose a cricketing phenomenon known as T Natarajan. His journey is a testament to perseverance, raw talent, and the sheer will to succeed against all odds. Natarajan’s cricketing origins are rooted in tennis-ball cricket, where his natural ability to bowl pinpoint yorkers at pace earned him local renown. This humble beginning laid the foundation for the precision and control that would later become his IPL trademark.
His big break came through the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL), where his consistent performances caught the eye of IPL scouts. In 2017, Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) shelled out a surprising ₹3 crore for his services, a life-changing sum for the young pacer. While his debut season saw limited opportunities, it was a crucial stepping stone. The real breakthrough, however, arrived in IPL 2020 with Sunrisers Hyderabad. Thrust into the role of a death-overs specialist, Natarajan embraced the challenge, consistently delivering unplayable yorkers and variations that bamboozled the best batsmen in the league.
The 2020 season was a revelation. Natarajan became the “Yorker King,” famously dismissing legends like AB de Villiers and MS Dhoni with his precise death bowling. His ability to hit the blockhole at will, coupled with deceptive slower balls, made him an invaluable asset for SRH. This stellar performance not only cemented his place in the IPL but also earned him a call-up to the Indian national team across all three formats, a dream come true for the soft-spoken speedster. Despite battling injuries in subsequent seasons, Natarajan’s determination to return stronger has always shone through, making him a fan favourite and a crucial cog in SRH’s bowling attack.
IPL Journey: Team by Team
T Natarajan’s IPL journey began with a bang in the 2017 auction when Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) secured his services for ₹3 crore. This was a significant sum for an uncapped player at the time, highlighting the potential scouts saw in his unique left-arm pace. He played 6 matches for KXIP that season, picking up 2 wickets, but struggled to find consistent rhythm and was often expensive, with an economy rate over 9. He was released by KXIP after the season.
In the 2018 auction, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) picked him up for a modest ₹40 lakhs. He spent the 2018 and 2019 seasons on the sidelines, honing his skills and working on his fitness. This period proved to be invaluable, as he emerged as a completely transformed bowler in IPL 2020. His breakthrough season saw him become SRH’s primary death bowler, taking 16 wickets in 16 matches with an impressive economy of 8.02, earning him widespread acclaim and the moniker “Yorker King.”
Following his stellar 2020 performance, SRH retained him for the 2021 season. However, injuries limited him to just 2 matches. Despite the setback, his value was undeniable, and in the IPL 2022 mega-auction, SRH once again went all out for him, re-acquiring him for a hefty ₹4 crore. He repaid their faith with a strong comeback season, bagging 18 wickets in 11 matches. He continued to be a vital part of SRH’s plans in 2023 and 2024, consistently leading their pace attack, especially in the crucial death overs. For the 2025 and 2026 seasons, he has been retained by SRH, a testament to his enduring skill and importance to the franchise, even as he enters the twilight of his career.
What Makes Them Special: Betting Perspective
T Natarajan offers a unique proposition for bettors, primarily due to his specialized skill set as a death-overs bowler. His primary strength lies in his ability to bowl pinpoint yorkers consistently, a rare commodity in T20 cricket. This makes him a prime candidate for the “Most Wickets” market, particularly in the later stages of an innings (overs 16-20). He thrives on pitches that offer a slight grip or where batsmen struggle to generate pace, making him a strong bet on slower, turning tracks or larger grounds where hitting boundaries is harder.
However, his aggressive death-bowling approach also presents a weakness: if his yorkers miss their mark, they can turn into full tosses, making him susceptible to being expensive. On flat, small grounds against power-hitting lineups, betting on his “Economy Rate Over X” could be a profitable strategy. Matchup-wise, Natarajan’s left-arm angle and ability to cramp batsmen make him effective against right-handers, but aggressive left-handers who can hit across the line might find it easier to target him. Bettors should look for his form in the preceding matches; a Natarajan who is confident and hitting his lengths is a wicket-taking machine. Conversely, if he’s struggling with control, his economy can skyrocket. Consider betting on him for “Player to take 2+ wickets” when SRH bowls first and he gets to bowl a full quota at the death, especially if the opposition is chasing a big total and forced to take risks.
Key Records & Milestones
- One of the few bowlers to consistently bowl two overs in the death (overs 16-20) for his franchise across multiple seasons.
- First bowler to bowl two yorkers in a Super Over in the IPL (vs KKR, IPL 2020).
- The only left-arm pacer from Tamil Nadu to represent India in all three formats of international cricket.
- Achieved his best IPL bowling figures of 4/28 in the 2024 season, showcasing his continued wicket-taking prowess.
- Crossed the significant milestone of 100 IPL wickets in the 2026 season, a testament to his longevity and impact.
IPL Season Highlights
IPL 2020: The “Yorker King” Emerges
This was Natarajan’s breakout season, where he truly announced himself on the IPL stage. Playing all 16 matches for Sunrisers Hyderabad, he picked up 16 wickets at an economy rate of just 8.02. His ability to bowl pinpoint yorkers consistently, even to the likes of AB de Villiers and MS Dhoni, earned him widespread acclaim. A memorable performance came against Delhi Capitals in Qualifier 2, where he picked up 1/35, including a crucial wicket, helping SRH reach the final.
IPL 2022: The Comeback Kid
After an injury-plagued 2021, Natarajan made a strong comeback in IPL 2022. He was instrumental in SRH’s bowling attack, bagging 18 wickets from just 11 matches at an average of 21.00. His best figures of 3/10 against Punjab Kings showcased his ability to dismantle batting lineups. He consistently delivered crucial breakthroughs in the middle and death overs, proving his worth as a premier T20 bowler.
IPL 2024: Leading the Attack
In a season where SRH’s bowling attack needed leadership, Natarajan stepped up admirably. He finished as one of SRH’s leading wicket-takers with 19 wickets from 14 matches, including his career-best figures of 4/28. His performances were key in SRH’s strong showing, as he consistently delivered under pressure, particularly in the death overs, maintaining a decent economy despite the high-scoring nature of the season. His ability to pick up wickets in clusters was vital for the team’s success.