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Earlier in the day, Delhi Capitals (DC) announced Anrich Nortje as Chris Woakes' replacement for the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The 2019 ICC World Cup winner had opted out of the 13th season of the IPL to keep himself fit for the English summer.
However, the COVID-19 break compelled the BCCI to push the IPL to September, and with the tournament just a month away, Delhi had to sign a worthy replacement for the Englishman. They declared Anrich Nortje as their newest squad member with a special tweet on Twitter.
Anrich Nortje will join Ishant Sharma, Kagiso Rabada, Keemo Paul, Mohit Sharma, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel, and Marcus Stoinis in the Delhi Capitals' pace bowling department.
The South African player has improved a lot in the last few years, and here are the five things that you need to know about the 26-year-old fast bowler.
5. Anrich Nortje was a part of Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2019
Delhi Capitals is the second IPL franchise to gain Anrich Nortje's services. The Kolkata Knight Riders had signed him at his base price of INR 20 lakhs last year, however, he could not make his IPL debut because of a shoulder injury.
KKR then replaced him with Australia's uncapped fast bowler Matt Kelly. The 2-time IPL winners neither retained Nortje nor Kelly for IPL 2020.
4. He made his Test and T20I debut against India in 2019
Anrich Nortje had made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka in March 2019. A few months later, the South African team management named him in their Test and T20I squads to tour India.
Nortje received his first T20I cap at Mohali. Even though the Mohali pitch favored pacers, the debutant could not make much impact as he gave away 27 runs in three overs. Rohit Sharma had hit two sixes off his first over in that match.
In October 2019, Anrich Nortje played his first Test against India at Pune. Once again, he did not prove to be so effective as he could not scalp a single wicket in the 25 overs he bowled. He managed three runs with the bat in two innings as the visitors succumbed to an innings loss in that ICC World Test Championship game.
3. Anrich Nortje has picked up 2 four-wicket hauls in 22 T20 matches
Although he does not have much international cricket experience, Anrich Nortje has been on the T20 franchises' radar for the last few seasons. The likes of Kolkata Knight Riders, Cape Town Blitz, St. Lucia Zouks, and Delhi Capitals have shown interest in the South African bowler.
One of the main reasons behind it is Anrich Nortjle's magnificent record in the shortest format of the game. Nortje made his T20 debut in 2013 and has played 22 T20s. He has 27 T20 wickets to his name, including two four wicket-hauls and a a best figure of 4/19. Besides, his economy rate of 7.54 highlights that the batsmen find it difficult to play big shots off his bowling.
2. He was a part of South Africa's 2019 World Cup squad
Anrich Nortje missed IPL 2019 because of a shoulder problem. The South African team management expected him to recover until the 2019 Cricket World Cup and named him in their squad.
Unfortunately, Nortje suffered a hand injury, which did not allow him to represent his nation at the grandest cricket tournament. Chris Morris later replaced him in the team and scalped 13 wickets for the rainbow nation.
1. Virat Kohli is his first Test wicket
Virat Kohli was in sublime form in the home Test series against South Africa last year. He had recorded his highest score in international cricket during the second Test of the series, which was also Anrich Nortje's maiden Test appearance.
Nortje went wicketless in his first Test, but he managed to dismiss the Indian cricket team captain by trapping him in front of the stumps in the next game. Virat was batting on 12 off 21 when a brilliant delivery from Anrich Nortje got the better of him.
Delhi Capitals will expect the South African pacer to bring his 'A' game to the table in IPL 2020 and help Delhi lift their maiden IPL trophy.
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