India left-arm pacer T Natarajan wasn’t picked for the upcoming World T20 scheduled to take place in October-November in UAE and Oman. The fast bowler has now said that he isn’t disappointed after getting omitted from the squad as he hasn’t played much cricket in the recent past. He had undergone surgery for a knee injury in April.
"I didn't have any disappointments [at not being selected for the T20 World Cup]," Natarajan said while talking ESPNCricinfo.
"I knew it was hard to reach there in a short period of time. A lot of people have told me that I would make the squad, but I didn't expect to be picked in the 15-man squad. I knew I was coming back from injury; I hadn't played competitive cricket for five or five-and-a-half months,” he added.
Natarajan further added that a player can’t be selected without having any match practice but insisted if the selection would have been after the IPL had concluded, he might have had made a place for himself in the side.
"If maybe the [World Cup] selection was after the IPL, I would have had a chance to make the squad. You can't expect to be picked in the squad without match practice,” Natarajan said.
The Indian team that will be led by Virat Kohli in the competition will begin the campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on October 24, 2021, in Dubai.