Delhi Capitals (DC) mentor Kevin Pietersen has flipped out at a journalist for a question about T. Natarajan’s absence from the side’s playing 11 in the ongoing IPL 2025.
The left-arm seamer who joined the side for INR 10.75 Crore in the mega auction. However, he’s yet to feature in a single game for Delhi in the ongoing season, with Mukesh Kumar, Mohit Sharma, and Dushmantha Chameera being preferred over him.
While asked about Natarajan’s game in a single game despite splurging such a big amount on him. The question has triggered Kevin Pieterse, who replied that they can only play with 12 players with one of them being an impact substitute.
He said that he would include him in the team if they are somehow allowed to play with 13-14 players.
“We can only play 12 players, one being an impact player. And if you can tell me where he fits in at the moment, you would help us. If you can help us play 13-14, it would help us. One thing I can say about Natarajan is that he’s doing everything that he’s been asked to do, as are all of our players.”
“What’s been so impressive about our set up is how good the guys are that are not playing, and they know that their chance is coming. They know that their chance is just around the corner,” said Kevin Pietersen.
Pietersen gave the example of Donovan Ferreira, mentioning how he was ready for his chance against Gujarat Titans and said that all the players are ready to play, whenever the opportunity comes.
“You have a look at Donovan the other night, he turned up and faced a couple of balls against GT. I mean that was spur of the moment, but he was ready. It didn’t work out, but he was ready and all of our players are ready.”
“Anything can happen again. Look at I think Phil Salt went down with a viral. We’ve had a few players that have gone down the night before a game because of a viral or some sort of illness. So all our players are ready and Natu is again, he’s chomping at the bit to get there,” he added.
The former cricketer has stated that the amount of money spent is irrelevant while forming a playing Xl and praised DC’s depth.
“I don’t want to talk about money. This competition’s long gone money. In the Premier League, people don’t talk about how much money the football is on, so that conversation for me is dead.”
“It’s more about the impact of a player and a team and when the player is ready to be selected and if you can make space for him. We’re lucky we’re in a good position where we’ve got Jake who’s off the field. Faf came back today. Natu’s off the field. Like we’ve got some very good strength really good depth in our squad,” Pietersen concluded.
Delhi Capitals has slipped to fourth spot in the IPL 2025 points table after their defeat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
DC will play their next match against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 29 at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi.
