Blow For SA! Anrich Nortje Ruled Out Of MLC Season 3 With Injury

Abhinav Tyagi

Anrich Nortje - (Source : @Revsportz/X.com)Anrich Nortje - (Source : @Revsportz/X.com)

South Africa star bowler Anrich Nortje has dealt another blow as he has withdrawn from the ongoing edition of MLC because of injury. The 31-year-old, who has a history of injuries, was set to represent KKR's sister franchise Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR).

The club has not revealed the nature of the injury, but wished a quick recovery to the right-arm seamer and also named a replacement for the injured star.

“Squad update – Windies all-rounder Dominic Drakes will be replacing Anrich Nortje for the 2025 MLC season. We wish Anrich a quick recovery,” read a statement from the Knight Riders as quoted by ClubCricket SA.

Nortje: A Force to Reckon With in MLC

It would have been Nortje’s third season in the MLC. The right-arm seamer played for Washington Freedom in the first year and shifted his base to MI New York for Major League Cricket in 2024. Further, KKR roped in the South African speedster for 6.5 crores and moved him to KKR's sister franchise LAKR for the ongoing season.

The 31-year-old failed to get game time during IPL 2025 as he was just given two matches to shine, where he took just a solitary wicket to finish the tournament on a low.

Meanwhile, 27-year-old Dominic Drakes will be making his MLC debut. The West Indies star last played for the Windies in 2023. Notably, LAKR will start their campaign on June 15 against San Francisco Unicorns.

Anrich Nortje Recently Recovered From Back Injury

Nortje has a history of injuries, as he recently missed the SA20 and Champions Trophy 2025 because of a back injury. The 31-year-old has missed several tournaments because of injuries, as he was not a part of the 2019 and 2023 World Cups.

Nortje’s recent injuries have become concerning for franchises, who look to sign the speedster, but then land in trouble because of the issues with his body.