T. Natarajan is one of Indian cricket’s most inspiring stories. A left-arm pacer from a small village in Tamil Nadu, Natarajan went from playing tennis-ball cricket on dusty streets to bowling match-winning yorkers in the IPL and for the Indian national team.
T. Natarajan’s net worth is estimated at ₹20 crore (approximately $2.4 million) — built almost entirely through hard work, his lethal yorker skill, and a ₹10.75 crore IPL deal with Delhi Capitals.
This article breaks down his full salary history, contract details, endorsements, and career earnings with verified data.
T. Natarajan’s Biography
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Thangarasu Natarajan |
| Date of Birth | April 4, 1991 |
| Age | 34 years |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Birthplace | Chinnappampatti, Salem, Tamil Nadu |
| Playing Role | Left-arm fast-medium bowler |
| Batting Style | Left-hand bat |
| Current IPL Team | Delhi Capitals |
| Domestic Team | Tamil Nadu |
| Turned Professional | 2015 (Tamil Nadu domestic circuit) |
| Net Worth | ₹20 crore (~$2.4 million) |
| IPL Salary | ₹10.75 crore (Delhi Capitals) |
| Total IPL Earnings | ₹23+ crore (career to date) |
| Marital Status | Married to Pavithra Natarajan (since June 2018) |
| Children | Hanvika Natarajan (daughter, born November 2020) |
| @t_natarajan_28 |
Early Life & Career
Thangarasu Natarajan grew up in Chinnappampatti, a small village near Salem in Tamil Nadu, far from the glitz of professional cricket.
His father, S. Thangarasu, worked as a powerloom weaver, and his mother ran a modest fast-food stall to support the family. As the eldest of five children, Natarajan carried the weight of family expectations from a young age.
Cricket in his early years had nothing to do with leather balls or manicured pitches. He started with tennis-ball cricket, a form of the game common in villages across India, where talent often goes unnoticed.
But Natarajan’s natural ability to bowl fast and accurate eventually caught the attention of local coaches, who steered him toward the Tamil Nadu domestic setup.
He worked his way through Tamil Nadu’s age-group cricket, representing the state in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) and domestic tournaments like the Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy.
His breakthrough in the IPL came in 2017 when Kings XI Punjab signed him for ₹3 crore — a number that changed his family’s life overnight.
After making his name in the IPL, Natarajan built a proper house for his parents, asking them to stop working, which remains one of his most celebrated moments off the field.
Professional Career
Natarajan’s journey to international cricket was anything but straightforward. After his stint with Kings XI Punjab, Sunrisers Hyderabad picked him up for a modest ₹40 lakh and retained him from 2018 to 2021.
It was during the 2020 IPL season, held in the UAE, that Natarajan finally announced himself to the cricketing world, consistently hitting yorkers at the death and finishing as one of SRH’s most effective bowlers.
His performances in the 2020 IPL directly earned him a spot in the Indian national team for the tour of Australia.
Natarajan made his T20I debut on December 4, 2020, taking 3 wickets for 30 runs — an exceptional start on a difficult pitch in Australia.
He then played his first Test and ODI matches on the same tour, making him the first Indian player to debut in all three formats on the same tour.
According to ESPN Cricinfo’s profile of Natarajan, his yorker accuracy in Australian conditions was consistently praised by both coaches and commentators.
Following his international breakthrough, SRH re-signed him for ₹4 crore per season from 2022 to 2024. When SRH released him ahead of the 2025 IPL mega auction, Delhi Capitals outbid rivals including Royal Challengers Bengaluru to secure Natarajan for ₹10.75 crore.
The official IPL website confirms that Delhi Capitals retained him ahead of the 2026 season as well, highlighting the franchise’s strong faith in his death-bowling abilities.
Wife
Natarajan married his school sweetheart, Pavithra Natarajan, in June 2018. The two had known each other since their school days and were in a relationship for several years before tying the knot.
In November 2020 — during the same month Natarajan was touring Australia — his wife gave birth to their daughter, Hanvika Natarajan. He missed the birth due to international commitments, a sacrifice he has spoken about candidly in interviews.
The couple maintains a relatively private life, with Pavithra occasionally sharing family updates on social media.
T. Natarajan’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, T. Natarajan’s has an estimated net worth of ₹20 crore (approximately $2.4 million).
He built this wealth primarily through IPL contracts spanning nearly a decade, international match fees, and a growing list of brand endorsements.
Contract
Natarajan’s most significant contract to date is his ₹10.75 crore deal with Delhi Capitals, secured at the 2025 IPL mega auction after his release from Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Delhi Capitals then retained him for the 2026 IPL season, as confirmed by the official IPL T20 website, underscoring his value as a death-bowling specialist.
On the international front, Natarajan does not hold a BCCI central contract, as he has not played the minimum number of Tests required.
He has, however, earned BCCI match fees across his international appearances — ₹15 lakh per Test match, ₹6 lakh per ODI, and ₹3 lakh per T20I.
Salary
Natarajan’s IPL salary tells the story of his meteoric rise. Kings XI Punjab signed him for ₹3 crore in 2017.
Sunrisers Hyderabad then picked him up for just ₹40 lakh in 2018, a retention fee they maintained through 2021.
After his international debut that year, SRH re-signed him at ₹4 crore per season from 2022 to 2024. His Delhi Capitals deal of ₹10.75 crore in 2025 represents a near tripling of his previous IPL salary, reflecting market recognition of his skill set.
At that price, according to Sports Tiger, Delhi Capitals were paying approximately ₹3.2 lakh per delivery bowled by Natarajan.
Career Earnings By Year
| Year | Team | IPL Salary (₹) |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Kings XI Punjab | ₹3,00,00,000 |
| 2018 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | ₹40,00,000 |
| 2019 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | ₹40,00,000 |
| 2020 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | ₹40,00,000 |
| 2021 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | ₹40,00,000 |
| 2022 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | ₹4,00,00,000 |
| 2023 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | ₹4,00,00,000 |
| 2024 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | ₹4,00,00,000 |
| 2025 | Delhi Capitals | ₹10,75,00,000 |
| 2026 | Delhi Capitals | Retained |
| Total IPL Earnings | ~₹27,35,00,000 |
Career Statistics
| Format | Matches | Innings | Balls | Runs | Wickets | Best | Economy | Strike Rate | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 1 | 2 | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — |
| ODI | 2 | 2 | 120 | 143 | 3 | 2/70 vs AUS | 7.15 | 40.00 | 47.66 |
| T20I | 4 | 4 | 96 | 122 | 7 | 3/30 vs AUS | 7.62 | 13.71 | 17.42 |
IPL Career (Bowling)
| Format | Matches | Innings | Balls | Runs | Wickets | Economy | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPL | 43+ | 43 | 939 | 1388 | 50 | ~8.86 | 18.78 |
FAQs
What is T. Natarajan’s net worth?
T. Natarajan’s estimated net worth is ₹20 crore (approximately $2.4 million). He built this wealth through IPL contracts totaling over ₹27 crore, BCCI match fees, and brand deals with companies like Dream11, Puma, and Uber.
How much does T. Natarajan earn per IPL season?
Delhi Capitals paid ₹10.75 crore for Natarajan at the 2025 IPL mega auction — his highest-ever IPL salary. That breaks down to approximately ₹3.2 lakh per delivery, making him one of the most expensive death bowlers in the league.
Which IPL teams has T. Natarajan played for?
Natarajan started his IPL career with Punjab Kings in 2017 for ₹3 crore, then moved to Sunrisers Hyderabad from 2018 to 2024. Delhi Capitals signed him ahead of the 2025 season, and he continued with them into the 2026 IPL season.
Has T. Natarajan played for the Indian national team?
Yes. Natarajan made his international debut across all three formats — T20I, ODI, and Test — during India’s 2020-21 tour of Australia. He became the first Indian player in history to debut in all three formats during the same tour.
Who is T. Natarajan’s wife?
T. Natarajan’s wife is Pavithra Natarajan. They married in June 2018 after being childhood sweethearts. Their daughter, Hanvika Natarajan, was born in November 2020 while Natarajan was on India’s tour of Australia.
