IPL 2022: DC coach Ricky Ponting gives update on Anrich Nortje; says he is nearing match fitness

Ponting also talked about the availability of David Warner and Mitchell Marsh.

Delhi Capitals (DC) coach Ricky Ponting has provided an update on their South African pacer Anrich Nortje’s fitness when asked about his availability for their next clash of the IPL 2022 against Lucknow Super Giants on 7 April.

DC lost their previous game to Gujarat Titans on April 2 thanks to Shubman Gill’s 84 and Lockie Ferguson’s 4/28, as DC lost by 14 runs while chasing the total of 171.

DC has been playing with either 2 or three foreign players as they await for Anrich Nortje to get better. Nortje has been out of cricket since the T20 World Cup 2021 after he suffered a hip injury and was also not named in the South Africa squad for the home series against India and Bangladesh. 

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Ricky Ponting gave an update of the Proteas pacer’s recovery during a virtual presser and said: "Nortje bowled 100% this morning (Saturday) in the warm-ups. He has to get through another maybe four or five-over spell at 100% capacity and then I think if he gets clearance from Cricket South Africa, he should be right to go. We have got a few more days before our next game, so hopefully, he is available for selection for that one.”

DC is also awaiting the availability of Australia’s David Warner and Mitchell Marsh. While Marsh is about to complete his quarantine period in the hotel, Warner reached India last night and will undergo the mandatory 3-day quarantine.

Asked about the availability of the Australian duo of David Warner and Mitchell Marsh, who is nursing a hip injury, Ponting said: "David Warner has arrived in Mumbai. He left early yesterday morning I believe, so he should be there when we get back to Mumbai tonight. Mitchell Marsh has been in Mumbai for a few days, obviously getting his quarantine done. I think he might be out of quarantine tomorrow actually.”

"We are hoping that he (Marsh) is going to be available for the game on 10th (against Kolkata Knight Riders). He picked up that slight hip flexor strain in Pakistan. So we need to get a lot of treatment work into him and obviously a few good training sessions before he is available for selection. But fingers crossed, Davey should be there for the next game and Mitch Marsh for the game after,” Ponting added.

(PTI inputs)