Anrich Nortje | The Man Delhi Capitals Must Unfailingly Capitalise On!

image-lg38y7ccGT won by six wickets vs DC at Kotla (AP Photo)

Of the many things that Anrich Nortje can do on a cricket field with the ball in hand, being ordinary with it isn’t one of them. 

It certainly isn’t. 

Even if that means arriving in India only a few hours ago, having not participated in a pre-IPL team camp in any capacity and immediately producing the goods with the ball. 

Though his maiden spell this time around in the 2023 edition turned out to be expensive, the right-arm bowler going for 39 in his first game for the Delhi Capitals, Anrich Nortje removed the top order of his opponents. 

Yes, he did that on his own a few hours ago. 

Among the prized wickets of his 2-for spell was that of Shubman Gill, who is undoubtedly the darling of Indian cricket and its cricket-obsessed media for all the good reasons. 

That both Gill and Saha, the other victim of a peach of a rising delivery that was utterly immaculate, saw their stumps in mid air was quite a sight. 

It’s such a pity that despite his gritty efforts, Anrich Nortje did not end up on the right side of the result in that crucial game of the Indian Premier League, his very first for the Warner-led side in this season. 

Though, that didn’t mean that Nortje fell short on the excite-o-meter; gunning Gujarat Titans’ top order at breakneck speeds of 144 to 148 kmph was just the kind of sight that a bustling crowd that had gathered at the Arun Jaitley stadium enjoyed. 

Truth be told, who wouldn’t have? 

Maybe even his compatriot from South Africa Dale Steyn would have had he been watching Anrich Nortje run rampantly fast in that Delhi-bound game. 

In some ways, the famous “Steyn-gun” of South Africa wasn’t incorrect by any stretch of the imagination when he’d remarked seeing Anrich Nortje a few years back that the future of the the team indeed looked “exciting!” 

Frankly, besides being an exciting fast bowler who compels batters to bat with more caution than elan, Nortje bears a DNA that’s quite interesting. 

He’s anything but a rickety, fame-hungry odd job who’s functioning in the great game of cricket purely for the big moola involved or the popularity factor. 

Nortje’s pretty much “what-you-see-is-what-you-get” approach to to the game has endeared him to the attention of the classical fan that was perhaps just as excited as were the nineties guys when they were handed the ball in hand by their captain. 

Think of the Curtly’s. Imagine the Srinath’s. 

Although Nortje is a few yards faster than the yesteryear’s stars that shone brightly minus the loud shenanigans and avoidable cliches. 

That the imperiously quick right armer has been among the wickets augurs well for his Delhi Capitals outfit; there was the 2 for 24 v the Dutch at the Benoni ODI and the 2 for 26 against the Windies in a T20I previously. 

And while the squad he’s a part boasts of a good mix having the talent of batters like Warner, Axar and Sarfaraz, Nortje on his own can wreak havoc. 

His pure and raw pace is such an X factor that it may lead Delhi to a point of authority as the tournament unfolds, provided the eleven Delhi pick on a day can play as one unit. 

Regardless, at whatever stage he’ll be brought in, whether as the go to frontline seamer or the first change bowler, the 29 year old pace express from the Protea land will likely light some fire to this IPL. 

After all, fitness and form are visibly on his side.