T Natarajan testing positive for Covid-19 had no impact on SRH's performance: Trevor Bayliss

After Covid-19 spoiled the proceedings of the Indian Premier League once earlier in May this year, the tournament was in the middle of another threat when Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer T Natarajan tested positive on September 22 only hours before his team’s fixture against Delhi Capitals.

The game, however, went ahead as the remaining SRH squad members tested negative, and Williamson’s men underwent an eight-wicket loss to continue their forgettable run of form in the season. Speaking about the team performance, SRH head coach Trevor Bayliss stated that Natarajan’s positive Covid-test did not have any impact on the team’s performance on the given day.

“I don’t think that would have affected the result of the match. They played way too well for us tonight. It was a little bit of an upset,” Bayliss said at the post-match press conference.

“Natarajan was going to play, but these guys are professional players. Every now and then, there’s an injury just before play and you have got to make a late replacement. So, I am sure all of the players are, in a way, used to that. But we hope Nattu (Natarajan) gets over it pretty quickly and we can move on,” added Bayliss.

DC’s bowlers bowled exceedingly well: Trevor Bayliss

SRH could manage only a meagre total of 134/9 after batting first, which the Capitals had little trouble in chasing thanks to good contributions from Shikhar Dhawan, on-return Shreyas Iyer and skipper Rishabh Pant. Bayliss was not shy in giving his opponents the credit for out-performing them in all departments of the game.

“Give Delhi the credit. They bowled particularly well. They have got some world-class bowlers and upfront some world-class very fast bowlers, so they had a good day. We didn’t have such a good day and that’s the game of cricket,” Bayliss said.

“Their bowlers upfront bowled exceedingly well. A lot of pace and used the wicket well with cutters, with the ball just holding in the wicket little bit and jumping up a little bit, those tall fast bowlers took full advantage of it.”

In Natarajan’s absence, SRH played left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed, speaking about whom Bayliss said: “Khaleel (Ahmed) in our practice matches has probably been one of our best bowlers. He was getting the ball to move around in those practice games. He is a little bit taller.

“We thought the balls for the taller guys were sticking in the wicket. He basically bowled quite well. It was one of those things, trying to fit three new ball bowlers into two.