In a significant setback for South Africa, the fast bowler Anrich Nortje was ruled out of the 2025 Champions Trophy due to a back injury.
According to Cricket South Africa (CSA), a scan was performed on the paceman on Monday to ascertain the severity of the injury. Nortje missed the game for the Paarl Royals against MI Cape Town on Wednesday and could miss significant time.
The CSA stated that the pacer was “not expected to recover in time for the event.” The first match for South Africa was set for February 21 against Afghanistan in Karachi. With regard to a replacement, CSA have deliberated with their team management and are the process of deciding.
The team was only confirmed by South Africa for the tournament on Monday, with the injury to Nortje likely to be the biggest point of discussion.
Injuries more than anything else. Poor Nortje has not had luck on his side where injuries are concerned.
It has been a break in red-ball cricket for him so that he can regain his fitness after a stress-rip that kept him out of the last ICC ODI event in 2023. He missed the 2019 edition due to a broken thumb.
He looked in superb form at the 2024 T20 World Cup in the USA and Barbados, also showing his vintage speeds in franchise cricket.
As per Cricbuzz, pace all-rounder Gerald Coetzee is the leading candidate to replace Nortje in the squad. Coach Rob Walter has put the two on the same pedestal while announcing the squad.
“Gerald Coetzee performed superbly at the 2023 World Cup, but it was between him and Anrich Nortje. They offer something close to high pace, both of them. Anrich is more experienced and carries attributes that will stand us in good stead in Pakistan. Gerald has done nothing wrong to miss out on this opportunity,” he said.
Now Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who bought him for 6.5 crores in IPL 2025, cannot be as lucky as Proteas. It has always been the case that KKR has emphasized an overseas fast bowler leading their attack, which Mitchell Starc did quite well last season.
Now if Nortje’s injuries stop him from playing the IPL, which starts in March, the defending champions are looking at the opposite foreigner Spencer Johnson and Umran Malik to come good for them in 2025.
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