Fast bowler Anrich Nortje is back in South African colours after being picked for next month’s five-match T20 series in India, his first international outing since the 2024 World Cup final.
Nortje, 32, has spent much of the past year fighting a recurring stress fracture of the back. A handful of solid outings for the Dolphins in the domestic T20 Challenge – five games, eight wickets at under seven runs an over – convinced the selectors he is ready. “The medical and coaching teams are comfortable that Anrich has ticked the necessary boxes,” selection convener Victor Mpitsang said in Thursday’s release.
For the moment Nortje’s workload will be limited. He is not part of the one-day squad that precedes the T20Is, a gentle nod to the long-term plan that peaks with next year’s World Cup, also in India and Sri Lanka.
There are other familiar faces. Quinton de Kock slots straight back into the T20 group, nudging the in-form Ryan Rickelton to the fringes. De Kock’s recent white-ball numbers are mixed – a sublime 123* against Pakistan in the ODIs, but just 31 runs in four T20Is since his own return – yet his record in Indian conditions remains persuasive: average 50.88, strike-rate 142. “Quinny understands his game here perhaps better than anyone in our system,” said head coach Rob Walter. “He’ll be important up front.”
Reeza Hendricks is another recall, which means no place this time for the explosive Lhuan-de Pretorius. David Miller also re-enters the T20 set-up having last worn the green at the Champions Trophy in March, while Dewald Brevis is passed fit after the muscle strain that curtailed his Pakistan tour.
Temba Bavuma returns to captain the 50-over side after a hip niggle but middle-order strokemaker Tristan Stubbs is omitted. Debutant keeper Rubin Hermann, solid against Pakistan, keeps his spot.
The tour opens with ODIs in Ranchi (30 November), Raipur (3 December) and Visakhapatnam (6 December) before the sides switch to T20 cricket from 9-19 December.
ODI squad: Temba Bavuma (capt), Ottniel Baartman, Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Rubin Hermann, Keshav Maharaj, Marco Jansen, Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Prenelan Subrayen.
T20I squad: Aiden Markram (capt), Ottniel Baartman, Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Tristan Stubbs, Keshav Maharaj.
The selectors have left themselves room to manoeuvre before the World Cup cut-off, yet this trip already feels like an audition. Nortje, in particular, will hope for smooth overs and a pain-free back as South Africa continue to juggle form, fitness and the calendar.
