Tamil Nadu-born Nivethan Radhakrishnan to play for Australia in U19 World Cup 2021, can bowl with both arms
Not many would know that Radhakrishnan even featured in the Tamil Nadu Premier League.
Australia’s Under-19 squad for the U19 World Cup 2021 was announced on Tuesday (December 14). The global tournament will get underway in January next year with West Indies being the hosts. Having won the title last in 2010, the Boys in Yellow must back themselves to get the glory this time around as they have some talented players in the ranks.
One of them is Nivethan Radhakrishnan, who was born in the Tamil Nadu state of India. He later moved to Australia and he’s now set to represent the national team in Under-19 cricket. Not many would know that Radhakrishnan even featured in the Tamil Nadu Premier League, the state’s marquee T20 competition. The all-rounder has been a part of several other TNCA tournaments.
The ambidextrous spinner was also a net bowler for Delhi Capitals during the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). It must be noted that Radhakrishnan possesses an extremely rare skill. The spinner can bowl with both arms and that too on consistent basis. While the 18-year-old usually bowls off-spin while bowling to left-handed batters, he switches to left-arm spin when a right-hander is on strike.
I don’t care about failing : Nivethan Radhakrishnan
In an interaction with ESPNcricinfo earlier this year, Radhakrishnan had explained the reason behind his ambidextrous bowling skills.
“There was no one bowling with both hands on TV or in league cricket in Chennai. No one had heard of it back then. I was like: ‘well, why not?’ There’s no fear of failure in my game. If I don’t care what people think about me and don’t care about failing, what limit is there to what I can achieve?” the youngster was quoted as saying.
Notably, Radhakrishnan had turned up for Australia’s U-16 team for a series against Pakistan in 2019. He made full utilization of the opportunity and showcased his three-dimensional skills. The all-rounder scored 172 runs and picked up eight wickets in the five-match series.
Australia U-19 World Cup squad: Harkirat Bajwa, Aidan Cahill, Cooper Connolly, Joshua Garner, Isaac Higgins, Campbell Kellaway, Corey Miller, Jack Nisbet, Nivethan Radhakrishnan, William Salzmann, Lachlan Shaw, Jackson Sinfield, Tobias Snell, Tom Whitney, Teague Wyllie.
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