Delhi Capitals fast bowler Anrich Nortje won’t be participating in their next match against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Arun Jaitley Stadium tonight. The development was confirmed via an official statement uploaded across the franchise’s social media handles in the afternoon.
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Nortje, who has played eight out of Delhi’s nine Indian Premier League 2023 matches thus far, is their fourth-highest wicket-taker on the back of picking seven wickets at an average of 40.71, an economy rate of 8.9 and a strike rate of 27.42.
Been one of their key pacers since making his IPL debut in 2020, it will be interesting to see who will DC include into their Playing XI as Nortje’s placement. Speaking of like-for-like replacements, one out of Mustafizur Rahman or Lungi Ngidi could be handed an opportunity in the national capital on a Saturday night. While Rahman has already played a couple of matches this season, Ngidi is yet to step on the field.
Why is Anrich Nortje Not Playing Today vs RCB?
It is noteworthy that Nortje has returned home to South Africa due to a personal emergency. “Owing to a personal emergency, Delhi Capitals fast bowler Anrich Nortje had to leave for South Africa late on Friday night. He will be unavailable for this evening’s game against Royal Challengers Bangalore,” read an official statement from Capitals.
Following Bangladesh and Kolkata Knight Riders wicket-keeper batter Litton Das, Nortje has become the second overseas player in the ongoing 16th season of the IPL to return home due to family reasons.
With Delhi not providing any official information with respect to Nortje’s return, it will be interesting to see if he will be back in time for their next match against Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Wednesday. Badly struggling at the bottom of the points table, the David Warner-led franchise wouldn’t be wanting to play a lot of matches without a first-choice player such as Nortje.
