Anrich Nortje Aims for Continuous Improvement Ahead of T20I Clash
Nortje's Focus on Daily Progress
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), December 16: As the fourth T20I against India approaches, South African fast bowler Anrich Nortje expressed his commitment to enhancing his performance each day. The match is set to take place in Lucknow on December 17, as part of a five-match series.
During a pre-match press conference, Nortje shared his excitement about returning to the field, stating, "It feels great to be back; I truly missed this experience and am enjoying my time here." He added, "I’m pleased with my progress, but there’s still much cricket ahead. My focus is on taking it game by game and striving for improvement daily. Being back with the team has been fantastic."
Nortje also praised the team's recent performance, noting, "The squad has been performing exceptionally well over the past couple of years. We have a mix of new and experienced players, and those who have been on the sidelines are now getting more consistent playing time. It’s impressive to see how simply they approach the game, allowing situations to unfold naturally and assessing what to do on the field. The camaraderie is strong, and everyone understands their role, which is crucial for our success," he remarked.
When asked about the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka and his chances of being selected, Nortje replied, "I hope to be part of the squad, but my main focus remains on improving game by game."
In the same press conference, it was mentioned that Nortje would be spending more time at the Ekana Stadium after being acquired by the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for his base price of Rs 2 crore during the IPL 2026 auction. He responded, "This is news to me. I look forward to seeing you all soon; I’m very excited about it."
On another note, Indian all-rounder Axar Patel has been ruled out of the remaining two T20I matches against South Africa due to illness, as confirmed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday. The BCCI stated that Patel will remain with the team in Lucknow for further medical evaluation. Shahbaz Ahmed has been named as his replacement for the upcoming matches in Lucknow and Ahmedabad.
The fourth T20I will take place at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on December 17, while the fifth and final match is scheduled for December 19 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Currently, India leads the series 2-1.