Anrich Nortje on Monday recalled MS Dhoni as a batsman who he thought didn’t know to bat properly. He said the wicket-keeper batsman never used his feet when he bowled him in South Africa in the 2010 Champions League.
Nortje is currently playing with Delhi Capitals and was he was just 16 when he was called for net bowling when the entire IPL was played in South Africa back in 2009.
“I wasn’t that big, so wasn’t scaring anyone. It was age group [that I was playing those days], so I wasn’t that quick,” said Nortje on The Grade Cricketer podcast.
“I remember bowling to MS in the nets there. He didn’t look like he could bat to be honest. I didn’t realise it was him. He hit a couple of balls almost standing still and not using any feet as he does. [But] afterwards he was such a nice man to see everyone and realise who they were,” Nortje said from West Indies where he is currently located with the South Africa team that is due to play white ball series.
“I am not going to lie. I did think he didn’t know how to bat,” added the 27-year-old. “It was a nice buildup seeing everyone around in the nets. They were just to block, get their eyes in.”
The South Africa pacer helped Capitals took 22 wickets in 2020 IPL, where Shreyas Iyer-led team reached the finals.
MS Dhoni announced his retirement from international cricket two last year and since then he is only part of the IPL.
