L Balaji emerged as one of India's leading fast bowlers on the historic tour of Pakistan in 2003-04. He was particularly lethal in the third Test in Rawalpindi, where he consistently swung the ball away and snapped up a then career-best of 4 for 63. Balaji was the first bowler to take a hat-trick in the IPL. His open-chested action, combined with a tendency to bowl wide from the crease, lulls batsmen into believing that the ball will come in with the arm. In 2012, he had a stunning IPL, leading all bowlers in economy rate. He also earned a comeback to the Indian national team for the World Twenty20 2012. After representing CSK and KKR in the earlier editions of IPL, Balaji, who leads Tamil Nadu in the domestic circuit, was recruited by KXIP ahead of the 2014 season.