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Nortje shrugs off nerves over potential T20 debut

Cape Town – Proteas fast bowler Anrich Nortje has played down any excitement for his potential T20 debut against India in Mohali on Wednesday.

Nortje is one of four likely debutants for South Africa, joining Temba Bavuma, George Linde and Bjorn Fortuin in the Proteas 15-man touring squad.

Nortje burst onto the scene in the 2018 Mzansi Super League and has played just four ODIs for the Proteas to date.

Earlier this year, he was selected in the Proteas Cricket World Cup squad, but withdrew with a fractured hand.

The 25-year-old came back into the set-up with the South Africa ‘A’ tour of India, taking seven wickets in four unofficial ODI games.

Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s second T20 against India, Nortje said that since getting injured, he has learnt to control his emotions.

“I’ve been actually really chilled, I haven’t been too excited. I’ve learnt to take the excitement down a notch,” said Nortje on Tuesday.

“I was also selected for the Sri Lanka T20 series and then I got injured so I’m just waiting on the moment to come before getting too excited.

“The build has been really good. I enjoyed working and chatting with everyone, especially with the bowlers and working as a unit. So there’s quite a bit of excitement to work out and play again.”

Nortje was set to play in his first ever Indian Premier League after he was bought for R400 000 ??????, but he pulled out due to a shoulder injury.

Nortje added that he got great support from the South African bowling unit, particularly star bowler Kagiso Rabada.

“It’s great to have a guy like Rabada around. He obviously has a lot of experience in India, just to try and get into his mind and what his thought patterns are and how he goes about things have been good,” he said.

“We haven’t been too technical, but just the thoughts of the rest of the bowlers in the group, like Beuran. It’s nice to get some feedback from those guys. They’ve obviously played at most of the venues so to understand the conditions we’re going to face.”

The second T20 on Wednesday starts at 15:30 SA time.

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