T Natarajan joins India Test squad as replacement for injured Umesh Yadav

The news of Yadav’s injury followed a similar blow for Mohammed Shami, with the fast bowler fracturing his forearm during the first Test defeat at Adelaide. Shardul Thakur was summoned as his replacement at the time

After impressing during the Indian Premier League and then during the white-ball leg of India’s tour of Australia, T Natarajan could now make his Test debut after being named as Umesh Yadav’s replacement in Ajinkya Rahane’s squad for the third Test.

The left-armer had originally travelled with the visitors as a net bowler but, after starring in the T20I series between the sides and also making his ODI bow at the Manuka Oval, he could benefit from a calf strain picked up by Yadav during India’s win in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.

The news of Yadav’s injury followed a similar blow for Mohammed Shami, with the fast bowler fracturing his forearm during the first Test defeat at Adelaide. Shardul Thakur was summoned as his replacement at the time.

It also means that Kartik Tyagi, who began 2020 as part of India Under-19s’ World Cup squad, is the group’s only remaining dedicated net bowler.

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Natarajan has only played 20 first-class games across his career but enjoyed a fine IPL with Sunrisers Hyderabad, earning acclaim for the consistency of his yorkers. In the T20I series against Australia in early December, he was the highest wicket-taker, taking six in three games.

Yadav and Shami will now begin their rehabilitation at India’s National Cricket Academy, with an eye on their next assignment – a four-Test home series against England beginning in February.

In more positive news for the tourists, who are already without regular captain Virat Kohli for the remainder of the tour, opening batsman Rohit Sharma has joined the squad after a protracted return to fitness. He will become Rahane’s vice-captain.