IPL 2019 | Anrich Nortje pulls out of IPL as Kolkata Knight Riders injury woes continue
South African fast bowler Anrich Nortje was the latest name to join Kolkata Knight Riders’ injury plagued squad with a shoulder injury after he made it public through his Twitter handle. The Kolkata-based franchise has seen Shivam Mavi and Kamlesh Nagarkoti pulling out with injuries previously.
A sense of deja vu has been prevailing at the KKR camp again as injuries pile on the team weeks before they commence their Indian Premier League campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Eden Gardens.
Dinesh Karthik and Co. were thought to have a decent auction after they had managed to pick up South Africa’s bowling prodigy Anrich Nortje for Rs. 20 lakhs. He was expected to a solid backup for the side that has very less firepower in their bowling department in terms of pace. However, the 25-year-old revealed on Wednesday that he had to pull out of the tournament owing to a shoulder injury.
KKR already had to find emergency replacements in the likes of Sandeep Warrier and KC Cariappa after Mavi and Nagarkoti pulled out at the last moment, and they would need to work extremely fast to get a proper replacement now. Prasidh Krishna and Lockie Ferguson are the only two proven specialist fast bowlers now in KKR camp apart from all-rounder Andre Russell.
After deciding to release Mitchell Starc this season, KKR have also got Harry Gurney on their side but the intelligent bowler doesn’t have pace as one of his attributes.
Unfortunately due to a shoulder injury I've had to pull out of the @IPL. I wish @KKRiders all the best and bring the trophy back home!! #KKRHaiTaiyaar
— Anrich Nortje (@AnrichNortje02) March 20, 2019