After dealing with injuries in recent times, Indian and Tamil Nadu left-arm fast bowler T Natarajan has decided to focus on white-ball cricket. At 33 years of age, Natarajan's body hasn't held on to take the toll of longer-format cricket. Natarajan played his last first-class match in January 2021 when he made his Test debut against Australia in Brisbane in India's historic 2-1 series win. He got three big wickets in the first innings in that match to help India seal the game. Natarajan tried to make his way back into the red-ball game last year, when he was selected in the Tamil Nadu squad in the Ranji Trophy, only to pull out due to another injury. While Natarajan is listed with TNCA first-division team UFCC (T Nagar) for this season, 2024-25, he has thus far not shown up in the Raja of Palayampatti Shield. Natarajan told TOI: "It has been almost four years since I played red-ball cricket (referring to first-class matches). It is not that I do not want to play red-ball cricket, but I feel that it makes my workload heavier. Right now, I am avoiding red-ball cricket." He further added: "When the workload is heavy, I am having issues on my knee. So I have stopped playing." Natarajan on his return to red-ball cricket: "I love red-ball cricket more than white-ball cricket. Whenever I played red-ball cricket, I enjoyed it a lot. If things go to plan, I will play after a few years. If I train well for the next two years, there are chances for me to return. But right now, I am only looking at white-ball cricket." Tamil Nadu are hoping to get Natarajan full fit for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 in November-December and the Vijay Hazare Trophy 50 overs in December-January. Natarajan has also been an integral member of the IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad. In the last three editions, he has featured in at least 11 games every season. Also Read | Who Claims the Trophy if the WTC Final Ends in a Draw?