Delhi Capitals’ ace pacer Anrich Nortje has joined the team’s bio-bubble. The South African international was earlier diagnosed COVID-19 positive. However, the franchise has now informed that the earlier test result was false and he is all set to join the team.
Nortje was one of the five South African cricketers who reached India late after playing the second ODI of the three-match series against Pakistan at home. Another South African pacer Kagiso Rabada was with Nortje on the same flight during their journey to India. He played for DC in the game against Rajasthan Royals on Thursday in Mumbai after missing the franchise’s first game against Chennai Super Kings.
The Delhi Capitals took on Twitter to confirm the news of Nortje returning three negative tests before joining the team. In the tweet, they also stated that his earlier positive result was not correct.
DC are set to play Punjab Kings in their third game on April 18 at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai. Nortje is now available and eligible to play this game unless the franchise decides to rest him for one more game. The DC management will have a happy selection headache to make the South African pacer part of the playing eleven as other overseas players have also performed well in the previous games.
However, cricket pundits suggest that Tom Curran will be sidelined from action despite faring decently as the other pacer Chris Woakes fared superbly in the two matches he played. Having said that, both Woakes and Curran might be dropped for the next game if the Capitals chose to go with an extra batsman.
DC, the runners-up from the previous season, would come all guns blazing in their next game as they would be desperate for a win after losing their previous game.
