Follow UsIn what comes as a huge boost for the Delhi Capitals franchise, South African pacer Anrich Nortje is reportedly set to be fit and available for selection from the third game onwards. Nortje, who was retained by the Capitals for INR 6.5 crore, has not played any professional cricket since the T20 World Cup, and there were fears that a ‘persistent’ hip injury might rule him completely out of the forthcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
However, according to a Cricbuzz report, the speedster has already joined the team and will be available for selection from April 7 (DC’s third game).
“A franchise official has told Cricbuzz that Nortje will be taking part in the IPL 15 from the team's third game, more precisely from April 7, when the Capitals take on Lucknow Super Giants at DY Patil Stadium. Nortje has already reached Mumbai and has been in quarantine for the last couple of days,” the report on Cricbuzz read.
Losing Nortje would have been a body blow for the Capitals, who did not invest heavily on any other overseas seamer. The South African, notably, is also the only bowler in the DC squad capable of bowling at over 150 clicks.
Finalists in the 2020 edition, DC will kick-start their IPL 2022 campaign against Mumbai Indians at the Brabourne Stadium on March 27.