Speaking to the media, Axar Patel, cricket director Venugopal Rao, and head coach Hemang Badani addressed ongoing inquiries regarding the availability of their pace leader, who took 14 wickets in 11 matches last season.
“We are in the process of obtaining the NOC from Cricket Australia. Once we have that, we can confirm when he will be with us,” Badani stated. “We maintain regular communication with CA. He has been bowling and was active just a few days ago. Until Cricket Australia confirms his fitness to play, there is little the franchise can do,” he explained when questioned about whether the NOC delay relates to fitness or workload concerns.
Rao, sitting beside him, remarked, “He is on his way; it’s just a matter of securing the NOC from Cricket Australia. They are monitoring his condition, and we are doing the same.” Accompanied by Rao and Badani, Axar was asked if he was prepared to step in against T Natarajan should Starc be unavailable for the team’s first match against LSG in Lucknow on April 1.
“It’s difficult to say at this moment. If Starc receives the NOC, he could arrive before the opener. We are looking forward to that news. If he doesn’t make it, we wouldn’t necessarily replace a left-arm pacer with another left-arm pacer. Team chemistry is what matters most. That said, Natarajan has been performing exceptionally well and is fully fit,” Axar noted.
Natarajan played only two matches last season due to a shoulder injury.
(With PTI inputs)
