Dayyaan Galiem [Source: @dayyaangaliem/instagram.com]
South Africa’s ace pacer, Anrich Nortje’s injury has opened the doors for 27-year-old Dayyaan Galiem to step into South Africa’s T20I side. Nortje, who fractured his toe during training, will miss the rest of the T20I series against Pakistan and the upcoming ODIs.
With South Africa leading 1-0 in the T20I series, all eyes are now on Galiem, who made his debut in in the second T20I vs Pakistan. But who exactly is Dayyan Galiem?
Who Is Dayyan Galiem?
Dayyaan Galiem is no stranger to South African cricket. A former South Africa U19 player, he’s been grinding it out in the domestic circuit for years. He plays for the Titans, one of the strongest domestic sides, and was part of the Johannesburg Super Kings in the SA20 league.
He’s an all-rounder, and that’s exactly what makes him such a handy player. A medium-pacer who can bowl in tough situations and a batter who can chip in with crucial runs, Galiem is the kind of player every captain loves to have.
Galiem's Numbers That Stand Out
Dayyaan Galiem’s T20 stats show he knows how to handle pressure. In 60 matches, he’s taken 46 wickets with a best of 4/11. His bowling average of 26.08 and a strike rate of 20 tell you he can be both economical and effective.
However, it’s not just his bowling where he has proven his mettle. Galiem has also starred with the bat, having scored 723 runs at a brilliant strike rate of 122.95. His highest score is an unbeaten 74, which just goes onto show how he can swing the momentum in his team's favour when needed.
Galiem has also been consistent across formats in domestic cricket. In First-Class cricket, he has amassed 1,745 runs and snagged 118 wickets, which shows he’s capable of delivering both with the bat and ball. His performances have often gone under the radar but they have been vital for his teams.
His time with the Johannesburg Super Kings in SA20 added another dimension to his career. While his name didn’t create the biggest buzz, Galiem showed he could hold his own against some of the best players in the world. It will be interesting to see how he fares in the ongoing T20I series vs Pakistan.