In a major blow, to the Delhi Capitals, Anrich Nortje’s participation is in jeopardy, for the Indian Premier League 2022 season. He was one of the four players, retained by the franchise before the auctions.
The pacer is yet to recover from a hip injury which ruled him out of the last two series against India and New Zealand. He hasn’t played any competitive cricket since last November and was not included in the recently announced South African squad for the Bangladesh series. It seems unlikely that Nortje will participate in the upcoming IPL season.
“It’s probably going to be difficult. He has not really been bowling much since November. We don’t have any timeframe on his return. It’s been a long one. The medical team will give advice on whether he will be cleared for the IPL,” ESPNcricinfo quoted CSA’s selection convenor Victor Mpitsang as saying.
With their lead pacer’s participation in danger, the Delhi Capitals seem to be in a spot of bother. In this article, we will take a look at three players who can replace Anrich Nortje in the Delhi Capitals.
#3. Andrew Tye
Andrew Tye found no bidders at the Indian Premier League 2022 auctions, for his base price of INR 1 crore. He has previously represented Gujarat Lions, Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals, and the Chennai Super Kings in the league.
The pacer left a mark straightaway in the tournament, on his debut in 2017. Playing for the Gujarat Lions, Tye took five wickets, conceding seventeen runs in four overs at an economy rate of 4.25. In the following season, he won the Purple cap for Punjab Kings.
Tye has picked 40 wickets in 27 matches, at an economy rate of 8.47 so far in his IPL career. The Australian pacer is in great form recently, playing a key role in Perth Scorchers’ championship win. He could prove to be an asset for the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2022.
#2. Reece Topley
The tall, lanky left-arm pacer from England, Reece Topley too could be signed by the Delhi Capitals as Nortje’s replacement. He went unsold at the IPL auctions for his base price of 75 lakhs. Topley is yet to make his debut in the Indian Premier League.
The English pacer has played 104 T20 matches and has picked up 131 wickets at an average of 22.16. He made his T20I debut for England in 2015, however, injuries have hampered his career. Topley’s fearsome yorker could be lethal in the slog overs for the opposition batters.
#3. Kane Richardson
Kane Richardson is known for his death bowling skills and has an excellent yorker. He has played for the Pune Warriors, Rajasthan Royals, and the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League. Richardson’s best figures of 3/13 in the league came against Rising Pune Supergiants in 2016.
The Aussie pacer has picked up 19 wickets in 15 IPL matches so far, at an average of 24.84. He pulled out of the Indian Premier League 2020 and 2021 seasons, which may have been the reason behind him not finding a bid this season. However, he is a good replacement option for Anrich Nortje.
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