Capitals’ Nortje relishing the prospect of bowling in tandem with compatriot Rabada

Mohammad Abdullah, Staff Reporter

Dubai: Delhi Capitals’ South African quick Anrich Nortje is looking forward to be part of the most lethal pace attack with Kagiso Rabada at the upcoming Indian Premier League  (IPL).

“I hope so. We have got the base and so hopefully we can bring it up to do our parts. Obviously, it is going to be interesting to see how the wickets play and the conditions are.

“But I am sure it is going to be nice having two quicks or a couple of fast bowlers from either side. I think it is going to make the captain’s life a bit easier at the end of the day,” said Nortje on bowling in tandem with South African team-mate Rabada, who is one of the most ferocious fast bowlers in world cricket at present.

The duo is likely to play a crucial role in Delhi’s maiden IPL title push.

Nortje heralded his arrival in style and dropped a hint for the batsmen, what he has in store for them. He broke the bat of Capitals’ Prithvi Shaw at the nets on the first day of training.

“That was just a quick run-through. It is very nice and I am sure. I am going to be very stiff tomorrow. I tried to take it easy today and then we will see how the body is tomorrow. Slowly but surely bowled it up. It is very nice to be actually bowling a proper square,” he said after bowling for the first time in nets since arriving here.

Nortje, who replaced England’s Chris Woakes, was drafted late into the Capital’s squad. So, he joined them after a while in Dubai. After completing his mandatory quarantine of seven days, he was allowed to train with the team for the first time on Sunday.

“It is very hot. But, it is nice to be back there. To be back on the grass and not on the balcony, to be bowling again. It is really nice. I can’t explain it. It feels like I have been locked up in the room for a couple of days. So it is nice to be out there in the open air,” he added after coming from his hotel room, where he was in quarantine.

“Yes I am not going to lie. That was a sort of case for me. I don’t want to put my mind on it. Obviously, I thought just before the tournament, CPL was there and that did not happen,” added Nortje.

He got a late call-up from Capitals as a replacement for Woakes, who pulled out for the birth of his child, which is due sometime during the IPL.

On the challenge of keeping oneself mentally and physically fit in a bio-secure bubble, he said: “Trying to see positive in it and trying to do as much as possible for me and my body. Just trying to keep busy.

“Once you lie in bed and not to be busy and not interact with a team-mate, it might get long. So luckily, we are a great bunch of guys. There is a bit of banter, there are a lot of good guys. So, quite excited to gel with everyone.”

Earlier, Capitals owner Parth Jindal expressed his delight on the successful scoop of Nortje.

“When Woakes expressed his inability to join the Capitals for the IPL, we respected his decision. We looked up at the squad and realised that we were short of a pacer,” said Jindal.

“We looked at all the fast bowlers available and one name that stood out was that of Nortje’s. I had a long discussion with Ricky Ponting and Shreyas Iyer. And everyone showed their regard for him.

“He bowls with Rabada and that makes a lethal combo. As soon as we expressed our interest, Rajasthan also came in the fray. But, we were lucky that Nortje chose us. we can’t wait to see him and Rabada bowling in tandem,” concluded the business tycoon.