“Doesn’t look like he can bat”, South African pacer Anrich Nortje had said of India legend MS Dhoni in 2021. Cut to IPL 2024, it looks like Nortje can’t bowl. The Delhi Capitals bowler has been under the pump this season, leaking runs left, right, and centre. On Sunday, in MI vs DC encounter in Mumbai, Romario Shepherd slammed him for 32 runs in the final over, meaning, he has already given 215 runs in the competition. And that too for a meagre six wickets.
It all started started with his expensive spell of 1/48 against Rajasthan Royals on 28th March. In the match versus Kolkata Knight Riders, he gave away 59 runs. And now 65 runs against Mumbai Indians. But perhaps, it all changed with the thrashing he got from Dhoni, where the latter smashed 20 runs in his over.
More on Dhoni
MS Dhoni’s Bat Does the Talking
Let’s once again talk about what Nortje had said of Dhoni. As per stats, Dhoni had only scored 114 runs in 16 matches, at an average of 16, and a strike rate of 106, but that could be mostly due to where he batted, and also the chances he wanted to give to the other youngsters.
But this year has been quite decent for Dhoni who showed glimpses of brilliance. Nortje was hit for a one-handed six, and one off covers in the same over. And that was enough to deflate his confidence for the entire tournament.
Anrich Nortje, In a Nutshell
In 96 balls, he has given away 215 runs. That has come at an average of 35, and an economy rate of 13.44. Interestingly, this performance doesn’t come as a surprise, considering, he is coming back after an injury layoff, and had a poor 2023 as well. In 10 matches last year, he had given away 364 runs, at an average of 34. His strike rate was a poor 24. So, it just feels like, Nortje’s comments from the past have come to haunt him now.
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