T Natarajan batting on Saturday (Source: @CricketHK/X)
T Natarajan played a wonderful innings with the bat, making 38 runs off just 14 deliveries on Saturday during the India Sixes do-or-die fixture against the UAE Sixes. However, others failed to support him as required, as India Sixes lost back-to-back matches.
After losing to Pakistan Sixes, India Sixes had to defeat the UAE Sixes to turn things around. But under Krunal Pandya, they produced a disappointing show with both bat and ball.
As a result, they failed to win hearts in the Hong Kong Sixes 2026, with the UAE Sixes and Pakistan Sixes finishing above them from Group C. They will next play England in the Bowl, Semi Final 2 of the competition.
T Natarajan’s Batting Saves India From Humiliation
Batting first, India Sixes were 14/3 in 1.2 overs, with Nitish Rana, Rahul Tewatia, and last match’s hero Shashank Singh returning to the pavilion without doing any damage.
Rahul Tripathi batted aggressively for a while, but he didn't last long either, scoring a brisk 24 off 7 balls. Krunal Pandya also managed only 15 off 8 balls, and then T Natarajan became the last man standing.
Thanks to Natarajan, who smashed four sixes and three fours, India managed to reach 94/6. However, all the UAE took were 4.2 overs to chase down the target, that too without losing a wicket.
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UAE Captain Khalid Shah smashed six sixes and three fours in a fiery 14-ball 52 to take his team past the finishing line. Ansh Tandon, on the other hand, remained not out on 12-ball 39.
Natarajan, Bowlers Fail To Stage A Comeback
However, Natarajan failed to fire with the ball in hand. He conceded 28 runs off his only over against Pakistan, and then, to make matters worse, he leaked 43 runs against the UAE.
The others, too, did little with the ball to break through. While Shashank Singh gave up 17 runs off his only over, Nitish Rana had leaked 24 runs off his six deliveries.
To sum things up, captain Krunal Pandya was hammered for back-to-back sixes to finish things off in an embarrassing fashion for India Sixes. Not to forget, Krunal was dispatched for five sixes on the trot during the India vs Pakistan Hong Kong Sixes 2026 match, against Abbas Afridi.
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