IPL 2019 | Anrich Nortje pulls out of IPL as Kolkata Knight Riders injury woes continue

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.