He played just two matches for KKR in IPL 2025.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) pacer Anrich Nortje is all set to be released by the franchise ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) auction.
This comes after South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad said that the 31-year-old has suffered a “stress reaction” in his back, because of which he will be out for an indefinite period. Anrich Nortje last played for South Africa during the 2024 T20 World Cup final against India, which the Proteas lost by seven runs.
“We will have to see the length of the time that he will be out and the extent of the injury. I really feel for him,” said Shukri Conrad, as per ESPNCricinfo.
“He is a superstar fast bowler and having to deal with setback after setback can’t be easy. We will wait to see how serious it is,” he added.
AUSA-W
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INDA-W
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KNK
229/5
AMR
13/0
Match delayed due to rain
VSS
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ROR
–
TBW
–
SVL
–
EDR
235/5
ODW
231/7
East Delhi Riders beat Outer Delhi Warriors by 5 wickets
NDT
190/7
PD
200/6
Purani Delhi 6 beat New Delhi Tigers by 10 runs
CDK
–
ODW
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EDR
–
SDS
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CRO
–
CYP
–
CRO
–
CYP
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CRO
–
CYP
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CRO
–
CYP
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CRO
135/6
CYP
136/7
Cyprus beat Croatia by 3 wickets
CRO
141/10
CYP
193/6
Cyprus beat Croatia by 52 runs
BAN
–
SPE
–
Match Awarded to Spencer
WIM
160/5
ESM
166/3
East Molesey beat Wimbledon by 7 wickets
TBC
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TBC
–
Match Canceled
SPE
158/6
ESM
172/4
East Molesey Won by 14 runs
NOR
172/10
YOR
374/5
Yorkshire beat Northamptonshire by 202 runs
SURR
208/10
GLO
293/9
Gloucestershire beat Surrey by 85 runs
SOM
85/3
DURH
255/9
GTC
43/5
91YC
44/1
91 Yards Club beat Gauhati Town Club by 9 wickets
NVR
111/10
BCC
112/3
Bud Cricket Club beat Navarang Club by 7 wickets
CCC
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NAJC
–
GTC
–
NVR
–
RTZ
–
JJ
–
KGC
–
KUMS
–
KRMPS
226/6
CEC-A
223/7
ACE KRM Panthers won by 4 wickets
SEL
139/10
PRK
166/8
Perak beat Selangor by 27 runs
JOR
175/10
PENG
92/10
Johor beat Penang by 83 runs
MEL
75/10
KLPR
298/6
Kuala Lumpur beat Melaka by 223 runs
KLPR
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JOR
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MEL
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PRK
–
PENG
–
SEL
–
BBW
98/9
MWW
110/6
Mysore Warriors Women beat Bengaluru Blasters Women by 12 runs
MDW
114/4
SHLW
113/6
Mangalore Dragons Women beat Shivamogga Lioness Women by 6 wickets
TBC
–
TBC
–
TBC
–
TBC
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EAE
130/10
PMW
168/5
Pupkewitz Motors Wildcats beat Eavion Eagles by 38 runs
PAJ
155/5
NPB
159/7
NPL Bears beat Paratus Jets by 3 wickets
PAJ
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EAE
–
NPB
–
PMW
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IRE-W
171/6
PAK-W
168/6
Ireland Women beat Pakistan Women by 4 wickets
WI
122/3
PAK
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SLGY
192/4
SLBL
168/8
SLC Greys beat SLC Blues by 24 runs
BIP
70/4
TRR
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OVI
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MAO
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WEF
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LOS
–
BIP-W
148/5
TRW-W
137/6
Birmingham Phoenix Women won by 11 runs
OIW-W
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MOW-W
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WFW-W
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LSW-W
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FRA
116/7
NOR
138/5
Norway beat France by 22 runs
SWE
136/10
AUST
139/6
Austria beat Sweden by 4 wickets
SWE
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NOR
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AUST
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FRA
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Over the years, Anrich Nortje has suffered multiple injuries including a back injury that kept him out of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. Back in 2019, he also missed the 2019 ODI World Cup in England due to a thumb injury and was also forced to miss the 2023 ODI World Cup in India due to a suspected stress back on his lower back.
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The only two matches Nortje has played so far this year has been for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2025. He picked up a wicket against Punjab Kings in April, but in his second match against Sunrisers Hyderabad which came only in May, he went for expensive figures of 0/60.
“Naturally we are worried. In Anrich’s case this is the second or third stress reaction in his back. It is too early to make a diagnosis and we are definitely not drawing a line through this name. He is 31 years old and we are going to give him every chance to come back. We will have to see what the medical team think is the best way forward,” stated Conrad.
Anrich Nortje has played 19 Tests, 22 ODIs and 42 T20Is for South Africa, having taken 70, 36 and 53 wickets in each of the three formats respectively. He was one of the top bowlers in the 2024 T20 World Cup that took place in West Indies and USA, taking 15 wickets from nine matches.
South Africa are scheduled to lock horns against hosts Zimbabwe and New Zealand in a T20I tri-series starting from July 14All matches, including the final on July 26, will take place in Harare.
Prior to that, however, South Africa will take on Zimbabwe in a two-match Test series. The first Test will take place from June 28 and that will be followed by the second Test from July 6. Bulawayo will host both the Tests.
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