Natraj Behera is an Indian first-class cricketer from Odisha. A left-handed batsman, he has represented the Odisha cricket team in domestic competitions organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), including the Ranji Trophy, the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Key facts
| Name | Natraj Behera |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian |
| Sport | Cricket |
| Batting style | Left-handed |
| Domestic team | Odisha |
| Role | Batsman |
Background
Behera came through the age-group ranks of cricket in Odisha, a state whose senior team is administered by the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) and which traditionally plays its home matches at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. He progressed to the senior state side as a top-order batsman.
Domestic career
Behera has been a regular member of the Odisha squad across formats. In the Ranji Trophy, India's premier first-class competition, he has featured as an opening or top-order batsman. He has also appeared for Odisha in the limited-overs Vijay Hazare Trophy (List A) and the Twenty20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Over successive seasons, he has been among the senior batsmen relied upon by the side, contributing scores in the longer format and providing experience in the middle order alongside younger players developed through the state's age-group system.
Significance
As a long-serving domestic cricketer for Odisha, Behera is part of a generation of players who have sustained the state's presence in the Plate and Elite groups of the Ranji Trophy. His career reflects the role of state-level professionals in Indian cricket's domestic structure, which forms the principal pathway to higher honours.
Related topics
- Odisha cricket team
- Odisha Cricket Association
- Ranji Trophy
- Vijay Hazare Trophy
- Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
- Barabati Stadium
- Cricket in India
References
- Wikidata entry: Q6980222