T Natarajan IPL Stats, Price, Runs, Age, Century, Debut, Team

Thangarasu Natarajan, better known as T Natarajan, is one of the most inspiring stories in the Indian Premier League. From tennis-ball cricket in Salem, Tamil Nadu, to bowling yorkers under pressure in front of packed stadiums, his journey is a reminder that the IPL rewards skill and temperament no matter where a player comes from. A left-arm medium-fast bowler with a rare command of the yorker, Natarajan built his reputation as a death-overs specialist during his long stint with Sunrisers Hyderabad before Delhi Capitals paid a record sum for him at the mega auction.

Natarajan’s IPL career began quietly and then exploded in the 2020 season in the UAE, where his pinpoint yorkers at the death made him one of the most trusted bowlers of the tournament. His control at the death, especially his ability to bowl six yorkers in an over, earned him praise from legends of the game and opened the door to an India debut across all three formats on the 2020-21 tour of Australia. Injuries have interrupted him at times, but whenever fit, he has been among the first names on the team sheet.

This article looks at T Natarajan’s IPL stats in full detail: his career overview, auction history and price, season-by-season performance, bowling style, key performances, and the teams he has played for.

T Natarajan IPL Career Overview

Natarajan entered the IPL in 2017 when Kings XI Punjab signed him after his impressive showings in domestic white-ball cricket. His first season was modest, but it gave him a taste of the league and its pressures. A move to Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2018 changed everything. In the Hyderabad setup, he found a team that trusted left-arm pace at the death and a bowling coach who refined his yorker length.

The 2020 season in the UAE was his breakthrough. On slow, low pitches, his yorkers were nearly unplayable in the final overs, and he finished with 16 wickets from 16 matches at an economy rate of 8.02. Few bowlers in that tournament bowled more yorkers than Natarajan, and his control under pressure became his calling card. His performances were so compelling that he was added to India’s tour of Australia, where he became the first Indian cricketer to make his debut in all three international formats on the same tour.

Injury struck in 2021, limiting him to just two matches, but he returned strongly in 2022 after Sunrisers bought him back at the mega auction. That season brought 18 wickets in 11 matches, his most productive IPL campaign at that point, at a strike rate of under 15 balls per wicket. The 2023 season was quieter, but in 2024 he produced the best season of his career: 19 wickets in 14 matches, including his career-best figures of 4 for 19, as Sunrisers reached the final.

At the 2025 mega auction, Delhi Capitals paid INR 10.75 crore for him, one of the biggest sums spent on an Indian fast bowler that year. Unfortunately, injuries restricted him to just one appearance in the 2025 season, a frustrating campaign for both player and franchise.

T Natarajan IPL Auction History and Price

Natarajan’s auction story mirrors his rise. His first big payday came in 2017 when Kings XI Punjab bought him for INR 3 crore after a bidding tussle driven by his raw pace and left-arm angle. Sunrisers Hyderabad picked him up for just INR 40 lakh in the 2018 auction, and he stayed with them on that modest salary through 2021, delivering performances far beyond the price tag.

The 2022 mega auction corrected the market. Sunrisers Hyderabad bought him back for INR 4 crore after strong competition, and he justified the investment with 18 wickets that season. The biggest leap came at the 2025 mega auction, when Delhi Capitals won a fierce bidding war and paid INR 10.75 crore for his services, underlining how highly franchises value a proven left-arm death bowler. He has earned over INR 15 crore in auction fees across his IPL career.

T Natarajan IPL Season-by-Season Performance

Natarajan’s season-by-season numbers tell the story of a bowler who took a few years to find his role and then became one of the league’s most reliable death bowlers.

His 2024 campaign stands out clearly: 19 wickets at an average of 24.47 and a strike rate of 16.2, with a four-wicket haul. His 2022 season was arguably even more efficient, with 18 wickets coming at a strike rate of just 14.3 balls per wicket. Across his IPL career, he has played more than 60 matches and taken more than 65 wickets at an economy rate under 9.10.

The 2025 season was a write-off because of injury. After playing a solitary game for Delhi Capitals, he spent most of the season on the sidelines, a reminder of how physically demanding fast bowling is.

T Natarajan Bowling Style and Strengths

Natarajan is a left-arm medium-fast bowler who relies on accuracy rather than extreme pace. His stock delivery is the yorker, bowled with a slingy action and a strong wrist position that keeps the ball skidding low. In the 2020 season, he bowled a higher percentage of yorkers in the death overs than almost anyone else in the tournament, and batsmen found it almost impossible to get under the ball.

His left-arm angle gives him a natural advantage against right-handers, and he pairs the yorker with a well-disguised slower ball and a hard-length delivery that climbs onto the bat. He bowls predominantly in the death overs, often entrusted with the 17th and 19th overs, and captains value his calmness when the equation is tight.

He is not a new-ball swing specialist, and his lengths can be punished when he misses, but his death-overs economy has consistently been among the best of Indian pacers in the league.

T Natarajan Key Performances in IPL

His career-best figures of 4 for 19 came in the 2024 season and swung a crucial game for Sunrisers Hyderabad. Across that season, he took multiple two and three-wicket hauls in the back end of the innings, often breaking partnerships just when the opposition was accelerating.

In 2022, his spell of 3 for 10 was one of the most economical wicket-taking displays of that season. His 2020 performances were less about single standout figures and more about relentless control: spell after spell of accurate death bowling that choked teams chasing targets.

Perhaps his most famous contribution came off the field of the IPL: his 2020 form was so impressive that he earned selection for India’s Australia tour, and the yorkers he perfected in the IPL helped India seal the historic Test series win at Brisbane.

T Natarajan IPL Teams Played For

Natarajan has represented three franchises in the IPL. He debuted with Kings XI Punjab in 2017, spent six seasons with Sunrisers Hyderabad from 2018 to 2024, and joined Delhi Capitals in 2025.

His Sunrisers years define him. He played more than 55 matches for the Orange Army and took more than 60 wickets, becoming one of their most trusted bowlers in pressure situations. The move to Delhi Capitals in 2025 opened a new chapter, and both player and franchise will hope injuries stay behind him.

When did T Natarajan make his IPL debut?

T Natarajan made his IPL debut in the 2017 season for Kings XI Punjab. He played six matches in his first season and took two wickets.

What are T Natarajan’s best bowling figures in the IPL?

His best IPL bowling figures are 4 for 19, recorded for Sunrisers Hyderabad during the 2024 season, which was also the most productive season of his career with 19 wickets.

Which was T Natarajan’s best IPL season?

The 2024 season was his best overall, with 19 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 24.47. The 2022 season was his most efficient, with 18 wickets at a strike rate of just 14.3 balls per wicket.

How much did Delhi Capitals pay for T Natarajan?

Delhi Capitals bought T Natarajan for INR 10.75 crore at the 2025 IPL mega auction, making him one of the most expensive Indian fast bowlers in that auction.

What is T Natarajan’s bowling style?

He is a left-arm medium-fast bowler famous for his yorkers. He specializes in bowling at the death, combining pinpoint yorkers with slower balls and hard lengths, and his calm temperament makes him a captain’s trusted option in tight finishes.

Which teams has T Natarajan played for in the IPL?

He has played for Kings XI Punjab (2017), Sunrisers Hyderabad (2018 to 2024), and Delhi Capitals (2025 onwards).