South African Bowler Ottniel Baartman Eyes IPL Move After PSL Exit

Baartman's Departure from PSL

Ottniel Baartman, a fast bowler hailing from South Africa, is poised to join the ranks of foreign players departing the Pakistan Super League (PSL) for the Indian Premier League (IPL). He follows in the footsteps of Zimbabwe's Blessing Muzarabani, Sri Lanka's Dasun Shanaka, and Australia's Spencer Johnson. The 33-year-old right-arm pacer withdrew from the PSL last week, prompting the Hyderabad Kingsmen, his PSL team, to seek alternatives for his replacement, as reported by a Pakistani news source.

According to the same report, the PSL franchise has reached out to Sri Lankan spinner Maheesh Theekshana to step in for the competition. Initially, there were rumors that Baartman might fill in for Nathan Ellis at Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who is sidelined due to a hamstring injury. However, Spencer Johnson has since taken that position in the squad for the upcoming season.

As of now, the reasons behind Baartman's exit from the PSL remain unclear, and there is no official confirmation regarding his potential signing with an IPL team. Meanwhile, the Rajasthan Royals have announced that Sri Lanka's T20I captain, Dasun Shanaka, will replace the injured England all-rounder Sam Curran for the 2026 IPL season, signing a contract worth Rs 2 crore. Shanaka is the second international player to leave the PSL for the IPL, following Muzarabani.

Shanaka had been acquired by the Lahore Qalandars in the PSL after going unsold during the IPL auction. Additionally, Spencer Johnson has joined CSK after withdrawing from the PSL for personal reasons. The Rajasthan Royals are set to kick off their IPL 2026 campaign on March 30 at home in Guwahati against the Chennai Super Kings. As for Baartman, it remains to be seen if he will secure a spot with any of the ten IPL franchises.