India’s left arm bowler, Thangarasu Natarajan, who made an impressive debut in the T20, One Day and Test cricket during his first international tour in Australia in December 2020, tells SBS Tamil that this successful start didn’t come easy.
From practicing bowling actions without shoes as he couldn’t afford to buy any, learning cricket from local tennis-ball tournaments to playing a part in India's historic Gabba Test win, this youngster from a small village near Salem in Tamil Nadu tells his arduous journey to SBS Tamil.
“I did not watch many cricket matches on TV growing up as I didn't have a television at home at that time.
“I was not inspired by watching matches, all my inspiration comes from playing the game,” says Natarajan, who nailed Yorkers and slower variations during his recent Australia tour.
He says he owes his cricketing skills to the innumerable local cricket tournaments he played in and around Salem at the beginning of his cricketing career.
Source: AAP
“Lots of local cricket tournaments used to take place near my village in which I used to enthusiastically participate and win cups. I enjoyed winning the tournament cups as those victories motivated me to play more.
No space for trophies
“At one point there was no space in my house to keep the Man of the Match and Man of the Series trophies that I had won at the local tournaments and I used to store the cups in my friends’ houses.
He recalls living in a small one bedroom rented house where eight of his family members stayed.
“When there was less space to even sleep comfortably, I can’t expect a room to showcase my cups.”
"We used to play the tournaments with the tennis ball and during my initial cricketing years I didn’t know that there is a different ball for playing cricket other than the tennis ball. When I came to know about the cricket ball it didn't bother me as I seriously didn’t find any major difference in playing with a tennis ball or cricket ball as my enthusiasm was the same for both the forms of games."
“I learnt most of the techniques of cricket including the Yorkers only during my gully cricket days. Jayaprakash, who was my mentor, played a key role in developing my mental strength required for the game.”
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Humble beginnings
While Natarajan’s father Thangarasu worked as a weaver on the power loom, his mother held a street food shop where she used to cook food for the locals.
“While my parents worked hard for a living, I really didn’t want to burden them by asking anything more for playing cricket in my growing up years. So, I decided to prepare myself for cricket with the things available in my village. I practiced day and night in the government school grounds without any proper cricket kit,”
“I couldn’t afford to buy shoes for my practice sessions due to my financial circumstances. I used to run 10 rounds around the ground morning and evening on my barefoot and I practiced bowling without shoes for many years.”.
Over the years he says he built his stamina needed for playing cricket with a healthy diet - by only eating fresh foods that were available in his village.
Source: AP
“After I started earning some little money in gully cricket, I slowly gathered the accessories needed for the game one-by-one after years of waiting.
If you have that fire in you to succeed, neither shoes or food or any other things really matter, you will eventually find a way to reach your goal.
“Nothing comes easy and one life lesson that I learnt out of my life experience is if you work hard, you will definitely enjoy the fruit of the labor at one point of your life.”
Career breakthrough
After playing many district level matches, club and inter-college matches, Natarajan landed at the prestigious Chemplast cricket ground in Chennai, considered as an iconic cricketing venue for any aspiring cricketer in Tamil Nadu.
“Chemplast management supported me and after playing many matches I managed to get a place in the Ranji trophy. From there the TNPL (Tamil Nadu Premier League) and then IPL (Indian Premier League). The TNPL is a good platform for local cricket players to showcase their talent. IPL is a great learning platform again for any cricketer.
Source: AAP
“My stint with IPL 2020 in UAE was my breakthrough in my career.”
‘Sydneyfied’
Natarajan tweeted ‘Sydneyfied’ while touring Sydney recently, and the cricketer says that the entire Australian tour will forever be his most memorable tour.
“The last six months of my cricketing career have turned my life upside down. Every bit of the Australian tour, which I see as a fairytale episode of my life, is close to my heart.
“When I arrived in Australia as a net bowler, the only plan in my head was to learn as much as possible from my senior players in the team but when I was given an opportunity to play for the country, I was determined to utilize it. Without taking much pressure about my debut, I kept it simple and played with my strengths, which I believe are Yorkers and cutters.”
Source: AAP
Never ever give up
He says all jobs have their own challenges and struggles and that applies to cricket as well.
“Whenever I step out to play cricket many asked me in concern of my future that why was I playing cricket when I had the responsibility to take care of my family, being the eldest son?
“But ‘why can’t I? Why not? I kept asking this question to myself whenever I faced such concerns from the people around me. Why I shouldn’t be playing cricket when I have a genuine interest in the game and also when I excel in each and every match I play. I wanted to pursue cricket despite discouragements as my love for the game is bigger to me than anything else in life. So, I decided to try 100 per cent to accomplish bigger feats in cricket.
When you work towards a dream, you have to give your 100 percent.
“Many tend to give 70 per cent and give up the last 30 per cent, when you are almost near in acquiring your goal. I was determined not to give up though a series of hurdles challenged me because even if I hadn't been successful, I wouldn’t have had any regrets.”
Source: AAP
Hero returns
After making an impact in the Australian tour, Natarajan returned to his hometown to a rousing reception from the villagers.
“People across various districts of Tamil Nadu had come to Chinnappampatti to welcome me. They told me that they were proud that a village guy had played in a foreign condition and helped win matches for India!
“They were so happy for my success and their gesture was overwhelming and my feelings couldn’t not be explained in words. I will give back my respect to them by playing good cricket in the coming months.”
