Ellyse Perry vs Nadine de Klerk: Stats comparison after 70 WT20I matches

Akshita Patel

Ellyse Perry vs Nadine de Klerk [Source: @FallenBails, @SportsUpdate045/X.com]Ellyse Perry vs Nadine de Klerk [Source: @FallenBails, @SportsUpdate045/X.com]

When Nadine de Klerk walked off the field after RCB’s dramatic last-over win in the WPL 2026 opener, it felt like a statement night. Four wickets with the ball, 63* with the bat, and ice in her veins at the death. 

It was the kind of all-round performance that instantly brought one name back into the conversation: Ellyse Perry.

With Perry having withdrawn from the tournament this season, RCB were left with a big void. And de Klerk didn’t just fill it. She owned it. Naturally, fans and experts began asking if Nadine de Klerk had become RCB’s new Ellyse Perry?

To find out, let’s put their T20I numbers after 70 matches side by side.

Batting: Calm vs Clutch

Criterion
de Klerk
Perry
Matches7070
Runs667514
Average27.7922.34
Highest score
44*55

(Table: Perry vs Nadine batting stats after 70 WT20Is)

After 70 T20Is, Nadine de Klerk has scored 667 runs at an average of 27.79 and a strike rate of 106.89, with a best of 44*. These numbers may not scream dominance, but they tell a different story of reliability. 

De Klerk is not flashy. She is steady, composed, and extremely valuable in pressure situations. Her WPL and World Cup heroics are proof of that.

Ellyse Perry, on the other hand, is elegance mixed with authority. After her first 70 T20Is, Perry had 514 runs, averaging 22.34, with a top score of 55*. 

While the raw numbers are similar, Perry’s batting impact often comes through timing, placement, and her ability to control the innings rather than brute force.

Perry builds innings. De Klerk finishes them. That’s a big difference.

Bowling: Control vs Penetration

Criterion
de Klerk
Perry
Matches7070
Wickets5267
Average24.6519.89
Best figure
3/74/20

(Table: Perry vs Nadine bowling stats after 70 WT20Is)

This is where things get very interesting. After 70 T20Is, Nadine de Klerk has 52 wickets at an average of 24.65 and an economy of 7.31.

Those are excellent numbers in modern T20 cricket. Her best of 3/7 shows she can be ruthless when the opportunity comes.

Ellyse Perry, after 70 T20Is, had 67 wickets at a stunning average of 19.89. That’s elite. Perry’s strength lies in her ability to strike early, break partnerships, and control the game even when she’s not taking wickets.

Perry is the superior wicket-taker. De Klerk is the pressure builder.

The big difference: Style and Impact

Ellyse Perry is a once-in-a-generation all-rounder. She dominates games with class, makes hard things look easy, and has done it across formats for over a decade. Her presence alone lifts a team.

Nadine de Klerk is a modern T20 all-rounder. She thrives in chaos. She embraces pressure. Whether it’s taking down the tough overs or a chase, she leads the way when other players have reservations.

Perry controls matches. De Klerk decides them.

Context Matters: Why this comparison even exists

This comparison didn’t come from nowhere. It came because in RCB’s hour of need, Nadine de Klerk delivered a Perry-like performance. 

With Perry unavailable this season, RCB needed someone to be the backbone. De Klerk gave them exactly that with 4 wickets and a match-winning knock in a high-pressure chase.

That’s not a coincidence. That’s character.

So… who is better?

When it comes to career greatness, influence, and legacy, Ellyse Perry doesn’t have any competition. She is among the greatest women’s cricketers of all time, considering her performance and influence on women’s cricket. That’s not up for debate.

But if we’re talking about right now, in T20 situations, under pressure, Nadine de Klerk is right there. She may not have Perry’s aura yet, but she has something just as valuable, which is nerve.

Final word

Ellyse Perry is the gold standard.

Nadine de Klerk is the rising force.

Perry is the legend.

De Klerk is the moment.

And after what she did in the WPL 2026 opener, one thing is clear that RCB didn’t just find a replacement. They found a new weapon.