Jammu and Kashmir cricketer Umran Malik is the fastest Indian bowler in world cricket.

While playing for Hyderabad in the Indian T20 League, Umran Malik bowled the fastest ball by an Indian bowler at 157kph against Delhi at the Brabourne Stadium on May 5, 2022.

Malik has consistently broken the 150kph barrier after recording speeds of 153.3kph,153.1kph, 153kph, 152.9kph, 152.6kph, 152.4kph, 152.3kph and 152kph during the 2022 edition of the Indian T20 League.

Malik has also bowled the fifth-fastest ball (154kph) in the Indian T20 League, overtaking New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson who clocked 153.9kph. The list is spearheaded by former Australia fast bowler Shaun Tait who had recorded a 157.71kph delivery in 2011.

Delhi pacer Mayank Yadav features second on the list of fastest Indian bowlers. Representing Team Lucknow, Yadav made his Indian T20 League debut against Team Lucknow in 2024. He recorded a 155.8kph delivery to Punjab captain Shikhar Dhawan. Mayank later produced the fastest ball of the Indian T20 League 2024 as he clocked 156.7kph against Bengaluru at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Former all-rounder Irfan Pathan is third on the list of fastest Indian bowlers. The left-arm pacer recorded a 153.7 delivery against Pakistan during the inaugural edition of the ICC T20 World Cup in 2007.

Mohammed Shami has bowled the third-fastest delivery among India's fast bowlers in world cricket. The right-arm fast bowler delivered a 153.3kph during the third Test against Australia in Melbourne in 2014. Shami was the standout bowler in the series as he picked 15 wickets in three Tests at an average of 35.80.

Speedster Jasprit Bumrah is fourth on the list of fastest Indian bowlers. Bumrah clocked 153.26kph during the first Test against Australia in Adelaide in 2018. Bumrah was the wrecker-in-chief for the Indian cricket team in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as he bagged 21 wickets in four matches at an impressive average of 17.

Navdeep Saini completes the top five list of fastest Indian bowlers in world cricket. Saini recorded a 152.85kph delivery during the 2019 edition of the Indian T20 League. 

Interestingly, unofficial reports claim Javagal Srinath breached the 157kph mark during India’s tour of South Africa in 1996. However, the delivery hasn’t made it to the official list as the speed gun levels weren't as accurate.

The likes of Ishant Sharma, Varun Aaron and Umesh Yadav have also breached 152kph in international cricket.

Fastest Indian bowlers

Bowler	Fastest ball	Against	Year
Umran Malik	157kph	Delhi	2022
Mayank Yadav	156.7kph	Bengaluru	2024
Umran Malik	156kph	Delhi	2022
Umran Malik	156kph	Sri Lanka	2023
Mayank Yadav	155.8kph	Punjab	2024
Umran Malik	155kph	Sri Lanka	2023
Umran Malik	154kph	Chennai	2022
Mayank Yadav	153.9kph	Punjab	2024
Irfan Pathan	153.7kph	Pakistan	2007
Mohammed Shami	153.3kph	Australia	2014
Jasprit Bumrah	153.26kph	Australia	2018
Navdeep Saini	152.85kph	Mumbai	2019
Ishant Sharma	152.6kph	Australia	2008
Umesh Yadav	152.5kph	Sri Lanka	2012
Varun Aaron	152.5kph	Sri Lanka	2014

Featured photo: Indian T20 League

Team Bangalore have been a mystery package all along in the Indian T20 League. Despite having some of the greatest talents in their squad, the Virat Kohli-led team has always fallen short of glory, thus earning the moniker of perennial underachievers.

With seven wins in their first 10 games of the 2020 edition, Bangalore seemed to be on course for a confident title challenge. But they came stumbling down in the latter half of the tournament, losing out in the eliminator.

Virat Kohli and co. begin their 2021 season against defending champions Mumbai, and considering the influx of talented overseas players, the three-time finalists would appear confident of breaking the jinx this time around.

Team Bangalore squad

As a sign of a squad overhaul, Bangalore released 10 players - the likes of Aaron Finch, Chris Morris, Moeen Ali, Dale Steyn, and the now-retired Parthiv Patel. The team entered the February auctions with a purse of Rs 35.40 crore and went on a spending spree of Rs 35.05 crores.

New Zealand Kyle Jamieson is #NowARoyalChallenger!

A huge warm welcome to the RCB #ClassOf2021.

Price: 1️⃣5️⃣CR#PlayBold #BidForBold #WeAreChallengers #IPLAuction pic.twitter.com/AZAn3HeeYx

�?Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) February 18, 2021

The team retained 12 players, including Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Devdutt Padikkal, and broke the bank to sign New Zealand pacer Kyle Jamieson (Rs 15 crore), Australian all-rounders Glenn Maxwell (Rs 14.25 crore) and Dan Christian (Rs 4.8 crore).

Team Bangalore squad for Indian T20 League 2021: Virat Kohli (captain), Devdutt Padikkal, Finn Allen (wicketkeeper), AB de Villiers (wicketkeeper), Pavan Deshpande, Washington Sundar, Daniel Sams, Yuzvendra Chahal, Adam Zampa, Shahbaz Ahmed, Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini, Kane Richardson, Harshal Patel, Glenn Maxwell, Sachin Baby, Rajat Patidar, Mohammed Azharuddeen, Kyle Jamieson, Daniel Christian, Suyash Prabhudessai, K.S. Bharat

Team Bangalore strength and weakness

Strengths:

At the onset, it is quite clear that Bangalore have one of the most formidable batting resources going into the 14th edition of the T20 extravaganza. With skipper Virat Kohli set to open for his team this season and Glenn Maxwell’s addition to the mix, cricket fans are in for a marvelous treat of some batting fireworks.

While the top-order seems particularly intangible, Maxwell and Dan Christian’s arrival will bolster the middle-order firepower as batters between #4 - #7 registered 821 runs in the 2020 season - the second-lowest of all teams.

Weakness:

One of the persisting areas of concern for Bangalore has been their fast bowler conundrum. Despite splashing the cash on Kyle Jamieson, the Kiwi pacer’s inexperience on Indian tracks and Mohammed Siraj’s tendency to return with an expensive spell is yet another sign that Virat Kohli’s men should have bid for a recognized pace bowler to headline their bowling attack.

Kane Richardson - who skipped the previous season for paternal reasons and also the travel restrictions due to the pandemic - returns to the fold and his recent tally of seven wickets in the T20I series against New Zealand could offer a minimal respite to Bangalore’s woes.

Who can be the highest run-scorer for Team Bangalore?

Devdutt Padikkal broke Bangalore’s massive dependence on Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers in the batting department, as he smashed 473 runs to finish as the team’s leading run-getter for the 2020 season. This season, however, Glenn Maxwell is expected to be the chief hard-hitter for the franchise. An explosive batsman on his day, Maxwell tallied 379 runs in Big Bash League 2020-21 and will look to put the ghosts of his disastrous 2020 season - 108 runs in 13 games - to rest this time around.

Who can be the highest wicket-taker for Team Bangalore?

While the limelight will be directed towards Kyle Jamieson, Bangalore will depend on their homegrown talents in Navdeep Saini and Mohammed Siraj to spell trouble for opposition batters in the 2021 Indian T20 League. Siraj scalped 11 wickets last term and is 10 wickets away from completing 100 wickets across T20s. The 27-year-old commands an economy rate of 8.52 in the first innings in the competition and Virat Kohli will be eager to see the pacer showcase his true potential in the latest edition.

Where will Team Bangalore finish in Indian T20 League 2021?

As unpredictable as they are, it is safe to say that Bangalore should at least qualify for the playoffs stage of Indian T20 League 2021. Deploying a perfect strategy around the bowlers will be the major piece of the puzzle for Virat Kohli, given there won’t be much to ponder upon from the batting point of view.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Manjunath Kiran

Former Australian bowling star Brett Lee has heaped praise on the Indian cricket team for their historic Test series win Down Under, to retain the 2020-21 Border Gavaskar Trophy.

In the absence of captain Virat Kohli, who was their best batsman in Australia in the previous edition of the trophy, the Men in Blue flourished under stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane who saw numerous Test debutants becoming heroes in the four-match Test series.

“I don’t know how India walked away with a 2-1 victory, to be honest, but they did so convincingly.

“To think about the losses that India went through before and during the series in Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hanuma Vihari, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and yet they kept putting players up. They have got so much squad depth.

“You think about players like Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini - who was an incredible injection to the Indian pace attack �?they have all done a great job.

“To go back to where it all started, the Pink Test�?the Adelaide Test that Australia won by eight wickets. India had gotten bowled out for just 36 runs. They go to the Boxing Day Test at MCG and fight back with an eight-wicket win of their own. They dominate Australia and all of a sudden, the series is one-all.

“What happens in Sydney? it’s a draw. Ravi (Ashwin) and Han (Vihari) bat for half a day on the fifth day as Australia fail to take those five wickets. All of a sudden, Australia have to go to Gabba with Australia needing to win to retain the Border Gavaskar Trophy.

“The Gabba sees Australia make 369 and 294 while India make 336 and then end up 7/329. They chase down the runs on the last day. Over 300 runs chased, which is incredible, on that fifth-day wicket.

�?/span>Rishabh Pant is an absolute legend the way that he played, the freedom of cricket that these guys played with is phenomenal. You would probably have to go a long, long way to see a better Test series than what we have just witnessed.

“Congratulations to India�?it was incredible how they just kept putting up players when the others were randomly falling like ninepins. India found a way to win and Australia will now go back and try to work out what they could have done differently.

Feature Image Courtesy: AFP/ Greg Wood

The Indian cricket team suffered another massive blow as right-arm pacer Navdeep Saini complained of pain in his groin on the opening day of the fourth and final Test against Australia at The Gabba on Friday.

Saini visibly seemed to be in a lot of discomfort, holding onto his thighs, after his follow-through as he bowled his fifth delivery to Marnus Labuschagne in the 36th over of the Australian innings. Incidentally, it was the same delivery on which skipper Ajinkya Rahane dropped Labuschagne at gully.

The physio was brought on and the 28-year-old left the field after doing some stretches. Interestingly, Rohit Sharma bowled the final delivery to complete the over. 

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) took to their social media accounts to inform that Saini has been taken for scans and that he is currently being monitored by the medical team.

UPDATE - Navdeep Saini has now gone for scans.#AUSvIND http://t.co/pN01PVnFfx

�?BCCI (@BCCI) January 15, 2021

Meanwhile, Australia batsman Marnus Labuschagne smashed a scintillating hundred on the first day of the Brisbane Test. The 26-year-old brought up his fifth century in Test cricket and his second at his home ground at The Gabba.

A home ground hundred to remember for @marnus3cricket! @hcltech | #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/ACcRzq3AiH

�?cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 15, 2021

However, Labuschagne (108) was later dismissed by India debutant T Natarajan after the former miscued a pull shot.

Another wicket for T Natarajan and this time he's claimed the prized scalp of Marnus Labuschagne who falls for 108! #AUSvIND | #WTC21 pic.twitter.com/IEd93JKFtg

�?ICC (@ICC) January 15, 2021

Interestingly, India left-arm pacer had claimed his maiden Test wicket after he gave the visitors a crucial breakthrough to get rid of Matthew Wade for 45. Natarajan broke the 113-run stand between Labuschagne and Wade as he dragged India back into the Test.

First Test wicket for @Natarajan_91 .

Wade departs for 45.

Live - http://t.co/bSiJ4wW9ej #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/Q0kOX0YCmb

�?BCCI (@BCCI) January 15, 2021

Earlier, Team India made as many as four changes in their playing XI which last featured in Sydney.

Australia have won the toss and opted to bat first in the 4th and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. We have four changes. #TeamIndia #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/87TrZAkA1Z

�?BCCI (@BCCI) January 14, 2021

Jasprit Bumrah, Hanuman Vihari, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were left out because of their respective injuries and were replaced by debutants Washington Sundar and Natarajan, Shardul Thakur and Mayank Agarwal.

Feature image courtesy: Twitter/ BCCI

The Indian cricket team has announced their playing XI for the third Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) starting on Thursday, January 7.

India have made two changes, one of them forced, to the starting eleven that had registered a historic victory at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Ace batsman Rohit Sharma has been included in the playing XI in place of out-of-form Mayank Agarwal. Interestingly, Rohit will be deputy to stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane in the last two Tests in Sydney and Brisbane.

Meanwhile, Navdeep Saini is all set to make his Test debut in Sydney as he will replace injured Umesh Yadav in the playing XI.

NEWS - #TeamIndia announce Playing XI for the 3rd Test against Australia at the SCG.

Navdeep Saini is all set to make his debut.#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/lCZNGda8UD

�?BCCI (@BCCI) January 6, 2021

Umesh had limped off with severe pain in his calf muscle on day 3 of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG. The 33-year-old has already returned to India and will now aim to recover in time for the England series in February.

"We all are really excited to have him (Rohit) back in the team, especially his experience at the highest level which matters a lot. Talking about his batting, he is batting really well in the nets. He had good 7-8 sessions, came to Melbourne, started practice straightaway when our Test match got over," said stand-in India skipper Ajinkya Rahane in the pre-match press conference on Wednesday.

"I think he is batting really well. The last couple of series he has been batting as an opener, so you will definitely see him batting at the top," he added.

Rohit missed the first two Tests of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy as he was serving his quarantine period in Sydney. He had arrived late in Australia because of a hamstring injury he sustained in the Indian T20 League held in UAE.

The ongoing four-match Test series is currently tied at 1-1, with Australia winning the first Test in Adelaide while India registered an eight-wicket victory in Melbourne. 

India’s Playing XI vs Australia for 3rd Test: Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah

Feature image courtesy: Saeed KHAN / AFP

The Indian cricket team has expressed their reluctance to travel to play the fourth and the final Test of the ongoing series against Australia in Brisbane.

The Queensland government shut down its border to New South Wales and are said to be pushing for harsher bio-security protocols.

The development has put the Brisbane Test in serious doubt, which is scheduled to be played from January 15 at the Gabba.

Earlier, five Indian players including vice-captain Rohit Sharma were placed in isolation after a video emerged of them eating at an indoor restaurant in Melbourne on New Year's Day. Rohit along with Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, Prithvi Shaw and Navdeep Saini have all been separated from both the Test squads.

Bc mere saamne waale table par gill pant sharma saini fuckkkkkk pic.twitter.com/yQUvdu3shF

�?Navaldeep Singh (@NavalGeekSingh) January 1, 2021

Reports have suggested that the Indian cricketers aren't keen on travelling to Brisbane if the players are forced to undergo quarantine. 

The third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2021 will start at the Sydney Cricket Ground on January 7 and Team India has expressed their desire to play the final Test at the same venue.

In light of this, members of the Queensland government have stated that the visiting team should not enter the state if they are unwilling to coordinate with the protocols that have been laid out.

"If the Indians don't want to play by the rules, don't come," Queensland's Health Shadow Minister Ros Bates was quoted as saying by Fox Sports.

Today I was asked about reports the Indian Cricket Team wants quarantine restrictions eased just for them, ahead of the upcoming Gabba Test. My response #Cricket #IndiavsAustralia @ICC @CricketAus pic.twitter.com/MV7W0rIntM

�?Ros Bates MP (@Ros_Bates_MP) January 3, 2021

Furthermore, Queensland's Shadow Sports Minister Tim Mander said there's no room for ignoring the protocols and that every individual would have to go through the same drill. 

 "If the Indian cricket team wants to spit the dummy and disregard quarantine guidelines in Brisbane for the fourth Test, then they shouldn't come. The same rules must apply to everyone. Simple," Mander said.

 On the other hand, Australia batsman Matthew Wade rejected the idea that there was uncertainty over the schedule.

 "(There's) No uncertainty from our side...we understand that us as a group we will go to SCG (Sydney Cricket Ground) and then we'll go to Brisbane and play at the Gabba until powers that be knock on our doors and tell us that it is going to change.�?/span>

The left-handed batsman also gave an indication of stricter quarantine rules at Brisbane during a virtual media briefing.

"Brisbane will be a harder quarantine and bio-security bubble than what we have had here, that is for sure. That has been relayed to us. No one knows the finer details of it yet. But yes, it would be a strict protocol than here."

The ongoing four-match series is currently tied at 1-1, with the hosts winning the first Test in Adelaide, and India pulling off an eight-wicket victory at Melbourne. 

Feature image courtesy: William WEST / AFP

 

India fast bowler Umesh Yadav became the latest name on the team’s growing injury list in the ongoing Test series against Australia. With veteran pacers like Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma already out with injuries, Team India’s options are fast depleting.

The incident took place on the third day of the second Test during the eighth over of the Australian innings when Yadav was bowling to Matthew Wade. After bowling the third delivery of his fourth over, the 33-year-old was seen complaining about straining his left calf muscle.

The team physiotherapist rushed onto the field immediately and the bowler soon returned to the dressing room after a short discussion. Meanwhile, debutant Mohammed Siraj had to complete Yadav’s over.

The BCCI released an update on their social media accounts stating, “Umesh Yadav complained of pain in his calf while bowling his 4th over and was assessed by the BCCI medical team. He is being taken for scans now."

Umesh Yadav complained of pain in his calf while bowling his 4th over and was assessed by the BCCI medical team. He is being taken for scans now. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/SpBWAOEu1x

�?BCCI (@BCCI) December 28, 2020

While fifth bowling option Ravindra Jadeja efficiently replaced Yadav for the rest of Day 3 �?taking two wickets in his 10 overs �?Virat Kohli-less India might have to do with just two fast bowlers for the remaining two days of the Boxing Day Test.

Interestingly, Yadav had given Team India their first breakthrough on the third day after the 33-year-old dismissed Joe Burns in his second over.

With Ishant Sharma already missing the entire series, India were also jolted by Mohammed Shami’s injury during the first Test match at the Adelaide Oval.

While bringing in an inexperienced Siraj hasn’t hurt the visitors yet, Umesh Yadav’s injury might force India to fall back on yet another bowler with little Test match experience in Navdeep Saini.

On the positive side, the Indian team management had asked T Natarajan, Shardul Thakur and Kartik Tyagi to stay back after the ODI and T20I series. In case the team’s injury list further expands, India can draft them in.

Ajinkya Rahane-led Team India are in a superior position after the end of Day 3 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. After taking a 131-run first-innings lead, Indian bowlers were at their best as they reduced Australia to 133/6 with two more days to go in the second Test match.

India cricket team’s dramatic collapse against Australia on the third day of the first Test match at the Adelaide Oval witnessed the side registering its lowest score in Test history, which was further compounded by an injury to senior fast bowler Mohammed Shami.

Coming into bat at No. 11, the 30-year-old pacer was caught on his right forearm by Pat Cummins�?short bouncer as he was trying to move out of its way. The seriousness of Shami’s injury was evident as the team doctor could be seen tending to his elbow within minutes.

While Mohammed Shami tried to bat again with a strapped-up forearm following a massage and a pain-relief spray, he couldn’t face another ball. He eventually left the field after a prolonged chat with the medical staff.

Post-match scans later revealed that a fractured arm has Shami ruled out of the remaining three Test matches.

As if Virat Kohli’s absence from the second Test match wasn’t concerning enough, the Indian team has now been burdened with the task of finding Mohammed Shami's replacement ahead of the Melbourne Test.

Unfortunately, India’s option to fly in a Shami replacement isn’t available with the 14-day quarantine protocol in place. Hence, here are three Indian players who are available to take Shami’s place in the Indian playing XI for the Boxing Day Test next week.

Navdeep Saini

As far as a like-for-like Mohammed Shami replacement is concerned, India don’t have one. The fact that Shami was rested during India’s limited-overs series just to keep him ready for the four Test matches, speaks volumes about the player’s Test-bowling prowess.

However, in Navdeep Saini, India have a bowler who could match the mighty Australian pace-attack in terms of pace. The well-built Haryana bowler had stunned everyone with his raw pace at the Indian T20 League last season in a match against Mumbai and he remains the fastest Indian bowler to do so in the T20 tournament. Hence, MCG's pitch could assist the 28-year-old who could wreak havoc on the Australian camp by hitting the deck hard.

Saini impressed everyone with his figures of 3/19 during the first innings of India's second practice match against Australia. He has already played seven ODIs and nine T20Is at the international level so far. The Indian pacer has impressed the selectors by claiming 128 First-Class wickets in 46 matches.

Mohammed Siraj

Though as inexperienced as Navdeep Saini with the red ball, Mohammed Siraj is likely to be India’s first choice for Mohammed Shami’s replacement in the second Test match.

Yet another fast bowler who claimed fame with his performances in the Indian T20 League, Siraj was used more regularly in the practice matches ahead of the first Test. Siraj did reasonably well, picking up five wickets in the two practice games, which included a three-wicket haul at the Drummoyne Oval.

Though Siraj’s exposure at the international level is limited to just three T20Is and one ODI match, the 26-year-old Hyderabadi has picked 152 wickets in 38 First-class matches at an average of 23.44.

Thangarasu Natarajan

India’s tour of Australia has been a blessing in disguise for Thangarasu Natarajan. The Tamil Nadu bowler was called up to the national squad late as Varun Chakravarthy got injured at the last moment. And his entry into the Test squad could follow a similar pattern.

T Natarajan was a revelation in India’s limited-overs series against Australia, where he took eight wickets in four matches (two in one ODI and six in three T20Is) exhibiting pinpoint yorkers and clever variations.

While T Natarajan is in Australia to serve the purpose of a net bowler, his left-arm pace bowling could become a lethal weapon for India in the absence of veterans like Shami and Ishant Sharma. Natarajan's left-arm angle could really be handy for India as he might also help create some rough for Ravichandran Ashwin like Aussie pacer Starc has been creating for his teammate Nathan Lyon.

The 27-year-old T Natarajan, however, has played only 20 First-Class cricket matches with 64 wickets at an average of 27.03 and a Test debut could be a huge task for him.

 

Feature Image Courtesy: AFP/ William West

Thangarasu Natarajan's late call-up to the India ODI squad that will face Australia at the SCG on November 27, 2020, is a testament to the brilliant yorker bowler that he is.

T Natarajan would have never been in contention for India's limited-overs sides if not for his yorkers. In the recently-concluded Indian T20 League in UAE, Natarajan had bowled the most number of yorkers and got the most number of wickets with it. He even ended up bowling, arguably, the ball of the tournament as well when his searing yorker whooshed past AB de Villiers to hit the stumps.

But, T Natarajan isn’t a one-season wonder and his journey didn’t begin in UAE last month. It was on a hot September night at Tirunelveli in the Tamil Nadu Premier League in 2016, when Natarajan had first turned heads of the IPL scouts with his uncanny ability to nail the yorkers.

In a game between Dindigul Dragons and Tuticorin Patriots, Natarajan's side - the Dindigul Dragons - tied the game off the last ball of the over to trigger a Super Over. Batting first, his side made 12 and left 13 runs for the Patriots to win off six balls.

Natarajan, the left-arm pacer, strolled in against Washington Sundar (an acclaimed hitter in the league at the top of the order), Subramanian Anand and veteran Tamil Nadu batter Abhinav Mukund. At the end of the sixth ball, Natarajan had dismissed Anand, conceded just three singles and a double. He had bowled six yorkers that night - the six balls that possibly changed his career.

The Punjab franchise was quick to rope him in for the 2017 Indian T20 League edition before Hyderabad acquired him for a lesser fee in 2018. Though Natarajan played more matches for Hyderabad, he wasn't a starter at the beginning of the season in 2020.

However, unlike most people in the world, 2020 proved to be massive for Natarajan. He was a hit in the 2020 edition of the league for Hyderabad with his pinpoint accurate yorkers. His ability to contain batsmen with smart thinking and stunning accuracy grabbed headlines.

In a game against Delhi, Natarajan had bowled as many as 10 accurate yorkers in his last two overs to hand his side a win. And once famed T20 hitters struggled to hit his yorkers in the air, things started to change for T Natarajan.

He was called up as a reserve seamer to the Indian T20 squad to travel to Australia. Later, an injury to Varun Chakravarthy meant that he was drafted into the T20I squad itself. Hours before the first ODI against Australia at Sydney, Natarajan is now with a chance to make a national debut in a format he has never played in. 

With Navdeep Saini complaining of a stiff back, Natarajan was called up to the ODI squad with the BCCI making a pretty late announcement of the same, arguably because Natarajan is due to debut on Friday. Either way, it's been one hell of a rollercoaster ride for the Tamil Nadu seamer. 

From being on the sidelines in the franchise to being their strike pace bowler in a season to making it as a reserve T20 bowler, a T20I squad member, and now an ODI squad member, all in the space of two months. However, nothing happens overnight.

India arrive in New Zealand to take the hosts on in a five-match T20I series followed by ODIs and Tests. In the year of the T20 World Cup, the shortest format holds more importance and the teams have one eye on the tournament as they head into each other once again after a year. Here's a glance at some players to watch out for from this series.

Tim Seifert

The wicket-keeper batsman has a pretty good record against India as he was the Man of the Series the last time these two teams played each other in a T20I series. At Wellington, in the series opener, Seifert made 84 in 43 balls and set up a total of 219 as New Zealand went on to win. He showcased his value yet again at Hamilton with a 43 in 25 balls as Munro and him put on an 80 run opening stand in 7.4 overs. He might be asked to bat in the middle-order, though, this time around.

READ: Why Tim Seifert could be the threat for India 

Virat Kohli 

Kohli is a rather understated T20 batsman although he has the highest average for any batsman with at least 15 innings in the shortest format of the game. In 10 innings in 2019 in T20Is, Kohli averaged 77.66 with five half-centuries and a strike rate of close to 150. In the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka early this year, Kohli couldn't quite get going and he will be eyeing to make amends this series.

Rohit Sharma 

Virat Kohli and KL Rahul are the highest run getters in T20Is for India since 2019, but Rohit Sharma has had an equally good influence in the shortest format of the game. The Mumbaikar has made 396 runs in 14 innings since the beginning of 2019 at an average of 28.28 and a strike rate of 138.46. While the numbers aren't overwhelming, he made resounding knocks of 67 (51) against West Indies, 85 (43) against Bangladesh and his last innings, a 34-ball 71 against West Indies. Last year, on the New Zealand tour as skipper, Rohit made a 29-ball half-century at Auckland.

READ: Captain Williamson back in New Zealand squad for India series 

Hamish Bennett 

The tall hit-the-deck pacer is set to make his T20I debut this series but has already played Tests and ODIs. Already 32, Bennett has had injuries on and off and returns to the setup after a compelling performance in the Super Smash for Wellington. The pacer was the top wicket-taker this year in the Super Smash with 17 wickets in 11 matches including a three-wicket haul in the finals of the tournament that his team won. Bennett is also known for dismissing Virat Kohli in 2014 in an ODI series after bowling 15 dot balls at him, including the wicket-taking delivery, in a total of 16 deliveries at the Indian skipper.

Navdeep Saini 

It's still early days for Navdeep Saini in international cricket but he has shown good temperament under pressure so far suggesting that India could persist with him for a while. The tall, lanky pacer is capable of extracting extra bounce and can also nail his yorkers making him an asset across phases of a T20I innings. In 8 T20Is for India, Saini has 11 wickets at an impressive average of 16.63 and an economy less than 7.5. His qualities should suit the New Zealand decks and Saini could just prove to be an x-factor for the visitors.

Feature image courtesy: AFP/ Manjunath Kiran