In this article, we will look at five bowlers who could replace him if he is ruled out of IPL 2025.
There is less than a month until the long-awaited Champions Trophy 2025, and South Africa’s situation has worsened with the loss of Anrich Nortje due to a back injury. He last competed in the Abu Dhabi T10 tournament in December.
This surprises not only South Africa but also his new IPL team KKR, who bought him for INR 6.5 crore in the IPL 2025 auction.
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IPL 2025 begins soon after the Champions Trophy concludes, so KKR may need a replacement if Nortje is unable to play due to injury. In this article, we will look at five bowlers who could replace him if he is ruled out of IPL 2025.
Will O’Rourke
Tall young New Zealand fast bowler Will O’Rourke has already made his mark in international cricket. If Anrich Nortje is not available, he could be an alternative for KKR. O’Rourke was part of the New Zealand team that whitewashed India and gained a lot of experience bowling in Indian conditions. He even bothered the batsmen during the first Test.
O’Rourke has managed to fit into Test cricket, although he is yet to adapt to the white-ball formats as he has only played 6 ODIs and 3 T20Is. His raw potential and adaptability will position him as one of the strongest options for KKR to replace Nortje.
Mustafizur Rahman
Mustafizur Rahman remained unsold in the 2025 IPL auction, but in case Nortje is out due to injury, KKR could consider him as a replacement. Mustafizur has a lot of experience in the IPL. He has played 57 matches and taken 61 wickets. Mustafizur has played for five teams in the league, with his best seasons coming in 2016, 2021 and 2024, when he took 17, 14 and 14 wickets.
Apart from his IPL record, Mustafizur has extensive T20 experience across various leagues and is a regular player. KKR should seriously consider him as a replacement.
Riley Meredith
If Anrich Nortje is out, KKR’s possible replacement could be Australian fast bowler Riley Meredith. He has previous IPL experience playing for PBKS and MI. Meredith has played 18 matches and taken 19 wickets. He last played for MI in IPL 2023.
He currently plays in the BBL for Hobart Hurricanes where he has picked 11 wickets in 7 matches. Meredith could be a good replacement option for KKR.
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Jason Behrendorff
Jason Behrendorff is another Australian fast bowler who can be considered as a replacement option for Anrich Nortje. Behrendorff played in the IPL for MI in 2023 and took 14 wickets in 12 matches. Being a left arm pacemaker, it is a good option.
In the BBL 2024/25, representing the Perth Scorchers, he took 14 wickets in 9 matches and is one of the best fast bowlers in the tournament so far. It can also be a good replacement option.
Gus Atkinson
In the IPL 2024 auction, KKR bought Gus Atkinson but before the tournament he retired to manage his workload. However, even after a year, he could still be considered as a possible replacement for Anrich Nortje.
Atkinson was England’s best red-ball bowler in 2024. He hasn’t played much white-ball cricket, but he can swing the ball at a decent pace and since KKR bought him earlier, they may trust him again .
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