IPL 2025 mega auction: Kolkata Knight Riders sign Anrich Nortje for 6.5 crores

Anrich Nortje took seven wickets for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024.

With an ability to combine high speed with late swing, Nortje is seen as an ideal successor to his hero Dale Steyn in South Africa’s pace attack. Nortje made his international debut against Sri Lanka in an ODI game at Johannesburg in 2019.

Consistently clocking over 150 kph, Nortje is regarded as one of the most ferocious bowlers in the world. His ability to execute bouncers as well as yorkers in the death overs makes him a valuable asset in the shortest format of the game.

Nortje has taken 180 wickets across 142 T20 games with an excellent economy rate of 7.6.

Kolkata Knight Riders buys Anrich Nortje for INR 6.5 crore

Anrich Nortje will be heading to Eden Gardens after being bought for INR 6.5 crores by Kolkata Knight Riders. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and KKR were the only two teams who showed interest in the South African speedster. LSG started the bidding war for Nortje before exiting at INR 6.5 crores.

The fast and bouncy pitch of Eden Gardens will suit Nortje’s bowling. He will partner Harshit Rana in the KKR pace bowling attack.

Anrich Nortje previously in the IPL

Anrich Nortje began his Indian Premier League (IPL) journey in 2019 with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), however, he was sidelined that season due to a shoulder injury. He was later roped in by Delhi Capitals (DC) in 2020 as an injury replacement for English all-rounder Chris Woakes.

Nortje made an instant impact in the league, consistently bowling at over 155kmph. Nortje was pivotal in Delhi’s run to the final of the tournament, finishing as the fourth-highest wicket-taker with 22 scalps.

Retained by DC ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction, injuries limited his appearances. Nortje has been underwhelming in the last two seasons picking up 17 wickets in 16 games with an economy rate of over 10.

He was bought by KKR in 2019 for INR 20 lakhs. He moved to DC in 2020 for a salary of INR 80 lakhs which was increased to INR 6.5 crores in 2022 (retention).

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