22 Anrich Nortje

A titan of raw velocity and one of the most intimidating fast bowlers in modern cricket, Anrich Nortje (born November 16, 1993) continues to push the boundaries of extreme pace. Famous for clocking the fastest delivery in IPL history (156.22 km/h), Nortje is a high-impact “enforcer” who combines surgical accuracy with a relentless bouncer.

As of January 22, 2026, Anrich Nortje is at the peak of a major career resurgence. Following a stellar performance in the SA20 2026 season, he is preparing to lead the South African pace attack in the 2026 T20 World Cup (starting February 7). In a strategic auction move, he was secured by the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for ₹2 Crore at the December 2025 auction, where he is set to spearhead their pace unit for the IPL 2026 season.

Anrich Nortje: Career Profile & 2025–26 Milestones

The SA20 2026 “Speed Demon” Return

After battling recurring back injuries that sidelined him for several seasons, Nortje made a thunderous return for Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC) in January 2026.

• Playoff Catalyst: Nortje has been a standout performer, claiming 14 wickets in just 9 matches so far.

• The “Paarl Demolition”: He produced one of the most clinical spells in the league’s history, taking 4/13 against Paarl Royals, reducing them to a record-low total of 49.

• Fitness Update: His ability to bowl at 150+ kph consistently throughout the tournament has silenced concerns about his long-term match fitness.

IPL 2026: The Lucknow Super Giants “Pace Ace”

Lucknow Super Giants moved decisively to sign Nortje for his base price of ₹2 Crore during the Abu Dhabi auction.

• Tactical Role: After an underwhelming 2025 season with KKR (where he played only 2 matches), Nortje is now viewed as the senior overseas pacer for LSG.

• The “Nortje-Shami-Mayank” Trio: At LSG, he joins a terrifying pace battery featuring Mohammed Shami and the young speed sensation Mayank Yadav, giving Lucknow arguably the fastest bowling attack in IPL history.

T20 World Cup 2026: The Proteas Quest

Anrich Nortje has been officially named in South Africa’s 15-man squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

• Key Leadership: With Kagiso Rabada managing a rib workload, Nortje is expected to lead the attack in the Powerplay and Death overs.

• World Cup Pedigree: He was instrumental in South Africa’s run to the 2024 Final and remains their most successful T20I bowler in terms of strike rate in ICC events.

Anrich Nortje: Consolidated Statistics

Data consolidated as of January 22, 2026.

IPL Bowling Performance

Recent SA20 2026 Stats (Sunrisers Eastern Cape)

• Matches: 9

• Wickets: 14

• Best Bowling: 4/13 (vs Paarl Royals)

• Average: 14.36

• Economy: 7.05