Nandre Burger destroys Babar, Rizwan: Why DC must target Proteas star for IPL 2026 season

Why Burger should be picked by DC [Source: AFP Photo]

South African pacer, Nandre Burger ran through Pakistan’s top order as he dismantled the famed top three of Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, and Mohammad Rizwan to push the home side on back foot. He swung the ball both ways as the Pakistan batters had no answer to his magic inside the power play.

An exceptional swing bowler, Burger’s scintillating performance will grab eyeballs ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) mini auction. He is currently associated with the Rajasthan Royals, but if the franchise doesn’t decide to retain him, the Delhi Capitals should go after him, and here are 3 major reasons for it.

1) Like-to-like Starc replacement

If the rumours are to go by, then the Capitals are planning to release Mitchell Starc ahead of the mini auction. The pacer was picked in the mega auction, but after a decent first half of the IPL 2025 season, the Aussie pacer decided not to return for the second leg. He was purchased for 11.75 crore, and while he did pick 14 wickets in 11 matches, the economy was questionable.

(Starc in IPL 2025)

• While he was decent with the ball, an economy of 10.17 was questionable. This is where Burger comes into place. He is the younger version of Starc and will be a like-to-like replacement.
• Just like Starc, he can swing the ball both ways and has the capability to take wickets inside the power-play, a trait that Starc possessed.

2) Will be a great budget buy for DC

If Starc gets released, DC will save 11.75 crore, but they might have to use the money to strengthen the other areas, as the opening slot and a possible finisher should be on their mind. The money should be used to fill in the other loopholes, and that would mean the team might be working on a tight budget to replace Starc.

In such a scenario, if Burger is not retained by RR, then going after him is an obvious choice. Unlike Starc, who was sold for more than 11 crores, Burger might be a more sensible buy as he might not fetch a hefty amount in the auction, and DC will get a quality pacer for a relatively low price.

3) Excellent T20 record

Burger is not only a brilliant ODI bowler, but the left-arm pacer has stellar T20 stats as well. His numbers tell the story as the pacer has been a difficult bowler to deal with for the opposition batters.

(Burger in T20s)

• As the stats tell, Burger has 90 wickets in 81 T20 matches, but the most promising part is his average and economy rate. He averages a mere 23.72, while his economy is just 7.72, showcasing his excellence in the T20s.
• The stats tell that in a difficult format like T20s, Burger has brilliant control on his lines and lengths, and that is a key factor while bowling in Indian wickets, which generally favours the batters.

Final verdict

DC might make a harsh call by releasing Mitch Starc and that opens the doors for another left-armer in the side, and if Nandre Burger is available, the team must not think twice before going after him. He might come at a decent price and has the same ability that Mitch Starc possesses.

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