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"Why Would I Bench ₹11 Cr Player?" DC Coach Unravels T Natarajan's Absence From IPL 2025

Akshita Patel

T Natarajan was not used by DC in IPL 2025 [Source: @CricCrazyJohns]T Natarajan was not used by DC in IPL 2025 [Source: @CricCrazyJohns]

Delhi Capitals finished fifth on the points table with 15 points in the IPL 2025 season. They failed to make it to the playoffs, which was extremely disappointing for everyone and one of the biggest questions that followed was about fast bowler T Natarajan’s absence.

Led by Axar Patel, they started strong and were one of the top-performing teams in the first half of the league. With 6 wins in their first 8 matches, fans expected them to finish in the top two. The team, however, performed very poorly in the second half, winning just one more match and ending the season fifth on the table.

Natarajan, who was bought by Delhi Capitals for a massive ₹10.75 crore in the mega auction, was nowhere to be seen, raising speculations over his absence.

Hemang Badani Opens Up On T. Natarajan’s Absence

Surprisingly, despite getting paid heavily, T Natarajan played just one match in the entire IPL 2025 season. Fans and experts alike questioned why a player bought for such a high price didn’t get more opportunities.

To clear the air, Delhi Capitals coach Hemang Badani, who is also a former Tamil Nadu cricketer, gave a detailed explanation. During TNPL commentary, he revealed that the pacer was injured and not benched.

"Why would we spend ₹11 crore on a player & bench him? We bought him specifically for the middle & end overs. Unfortunately, Natarajan wasn’t fully fit after returning from injury - remained injured throughout the season, that’s why he didn’t play," Badani said.

According to Badani, Natarajan was still recovering from an injury and couldn’t reach full match fitness. Despite having big hopes for his contribution, the team decided not to risk playing him while he was still struggling physically.

Injuries Pushed Natarajan Away From Test Cricket

T Natarajan, India's left-arm pacer, became a hero during the 2021 Test series win in Australia. However, due to recurring injuries and workload concerns, he has stepped away from red-ball cricket. He has played no first-class match since beginning his Test career. Natarajan revealed knee issues worsened with heavy workloads, forcing him to avoid Tests. Though he loves red-ball cricket, fitness concerns have kept him out of India’s Test plans.