South Africa pacer Anrich Nortje doubted former India captain MS Dhoni could bat when he first bowled to him during the nets in the 2010 Champions League T20. On Monday (June 7), Nortje recalled his first face-off with Dhoni as a net bowler in South Africa.

Nortje was only 16 when Chennai Super Kings (CSK) called him to bowl in the nets. He said Dhoni was hardly moving his feet in the net session and it made him feel the CSK skipper can't bat. 

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“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 realize who they were,” he further said.

“I am not going to lie. I did think he didn’t know how to bat. It was a nice buildup seeing everyone around in the nets. They were just to block, get their eyes in," Nortje added.

Dhoni-led CSK had won the tournament after beating Warriors in the final by 8 wickets. Dhoni scored 91 runs in 5 innings with an average of 45.5. 

Super Kings had also won the Indian Premier League (IPL) the same year and it was their maiden title win in both the T20 leagues.

(With IANS Inputs)