Delhi Capitals (DC) speedster Anrich Nortje on Friday (September 24) said he doesn’t think about bowling fast, but he is just trying to hit the length whenever he takes the field to bowl for his team.
Nortje produced a fast and furious performance in Delhi Capitals (DC) opening game in the second leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on September 22 in Dubai.
He clocked in excess of 150 km/h on four instances with 151.71 km/h being his highest and fastest delivery of the ongoing IPL 2021. He bowled the fastest 8 balls of IPL 14 against SRH.
The South African pacer clocked 151.71kmph, 151.37kmph, 150.21kmph, 149.97kmph, 149.29kmph, 149.15kmph, and 148.76kmph and finished with outstanding figures of 2/12 in his 4 overs at an economy rate of 3.00 and 14 dot balls to help DC beat SRH by 8 wickets on Wednesday in Dubai.
Nortje said at a virtual press conference, “It is a question I get a lot. It (bowling fast) is not something I think about when I am on the field. Obviously, when you are training and are working on your strength that is when you think about it. This is what motivates me when I am on the field; I am just trying to hit the length.”
The 27-year-old added, “It is about finding the right lengths, whether it is with the new ball or old ball. Yorkers and bouncers in between, every wicket is a bit different. It all depends on how the wicket is playing. I think it is about trying to adapt every day as quickly as possible. It is just about adapting and finding the right line. It is about taking the pitch out of it.”
He said about his DC fast-bowling teammate Avesh Khan, “There are some of us who have been looking at him on how he has been landing his yorkers. He has been so good to us. It was nice to see him in India on how he landed his yorkers when the pressure was on him. It was nice to see how he has been progressing. I am sure he is holding on to his yorkers for the games where the pressure is on. He has got a bright future ahead of him.”
On Marcus Stoinis’ fitness, Nortje said: “We are just waiting on some results. He looks good, he is fine. I spoke to him this morning, but we are just waiting for some results. He had gone for a scan.”
Read Also: IPL 2021: DC's Marcus Stoinis to undergo scans on Thursday for hamstring strain
He also said of Rishabh Pant’s captaincy, “It is difficult to say after one game. Obviously, just simple things, he is good with angles, really nice to have him as a wicketkeeper and captain.”
DC will next take on Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 14 on Saturday, September 25 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi and Proteas pacer said this game would be a tough one due to the weather conditions during the day time.
Nortje signed off by saying, “Abu Dhabi wicket is a bit on the slower side. We have to be quick to assess. It is not going to be an easy game, heat will be a major factor. Hopefully, we can just control our skills. We need to focus on how we go as a side. We are looking forward to tomorrow.”
(With ANI Inputs)
