Anrich Nortje was wrapping up media duties ahead of South Africa’s fourth T20I against India in Lucknow when an unexpected update landed — the city would soon be his IPL base as well.
The South African quick was picked up by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the IPL mini-auction for his base price of INR 2 crore, moving on from Kolkata Knight Riders, where he featured in just two matches last season. Told the news moments after his press conference, Nortje smiled. “This is news to me,” he said. “I’ll see you guys soon then. I’m very happy.”
The LSG deal marks a positive turn in what has been a difficult period for the express fast bowler. Injuries have restricted Nortje to just 13 matches in 2025, and before this T20I series he had not played international cricket for 17 months. A back injury sidelined him completely between October 2024 and May 2025, ruling him out of both the SA20 and the Champions Trophy. A brief IPL return was cut short by another stress reaction, keeping him out for nearly six more months.
Only last month did Nortje finally string together consistent game time, returning for the Dolphins in domestic cricket and earning an international recall soon after — even if the wickets are yet to come.
His comeback series has been a work in progress. Nortje leaked 41 runs in four overs in the opening T20I at Cuttack but still touched speeds close to 150kph. Rested for the second match, he returned sharply in Dharamsala, conceding just 14 runs in three overs, with Shubman Gill’s edge the only boundary he allowed. The pace was there again — and this time, so was the control.
“It’s nice to be back. I really missed it,” Nortje said. “I’m happy with the progress. There’s still a lot of cricket to play, so for me it’s about focusing game by game, day by day, and just getting better. I’ve really been enjoying being back with the team.”
This series also marks Nortje’s first assignment under South Africa’s all-format head coach Shukri Conrad. Although Nortje is no longer centrally contracted by choice, he has found the environment welcoming and relaxed, similar to fellow returnee Quinton de Kock.
“With a new coach and the way he’s going about things, it seems to be working really well,” Nortje said. “They keep things basic, let the moment play out, and everyone understands their role. Guys are jelling really well, and that’s very important.”
Conrad’s tenure has been defined by building depth and adopting a horses-for-courses selection policy, widening South Africa’s talent pool. That philosophy has kept Nortje in contention, even as the team rotates bowlers through the ongoing series.
“There’s a lot of competition, and that creates opportunity but also pressure — which is good,” Nortje said. “A lot of guys are fighting for spots, and that’s exactly what you want.”
Nortje is one of six seamers in the current T20I squad, alongside Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman, Lutho Sipamla, Marco Jansen and Corbin Bosch. Add injured stars like Kagiso Rabada, plus Kwena Maphaka, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee and Lizaad Williams, and South Africa’s pace reserves look formidable ahead of the next T20 World Cup.
Despite being South Africa’s standout bowler at the 2024 tournament, Nortje remains grounded about his chances.
“There’s SA20 coming up with a lot of games back-to-back,” he said. “I’m just focusing on every game and improving as much as I can. Hopefully I can be in the squad, but if not, it’s still about getting better every day.”
Nortje will turn out for Sunrisers Eastern Cape in this year’s SA20, moving on after three seasons with Pretoria Capitals — another fresh chapter as he continues his comeback.
