'Smartest bowling unit will win IPL': KKR pacer Anrich Nortje exclusive interview

South African speedster Anrich Nortje has built a reputation for raw pace and quiet intensity. Capable of regularly hitting speeds north of 150 kmph, the 31-year-old quick is a rare commodity in modern cricket — both intimidating and intelligent. Now part of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) setup in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL), Nortje has featured in just one game this season but remains a crucial part of the side’s plans as they look to pull off a late surge into the playoffs.

With 9 points from 10 matches, KKR sit seventh in the standings. They must win all four of their remaining matches to have even a mathematical chance of qualifying. Ahead of KKR’s must-win clash against Rajasthan Royals at Eden Gardens on May 4, Nortje spoke exclusively to Firstpost about the evolution of T20 cricket, the challenge bowlers face under the Impact Player rule, and what it’ll take for KKR to stay in the hunt.

“The smartest bowling unit will most likely win the IPL”

For Nortje, thriving in T20 cricket — and especially in a tournament like IPL—isn’t merely about big hitters, raw pace, or mystery spin; it’s about the tactical intelligence of a bowling unit that can win you the championship.

“Look, I feel in the IPL, the smartest bowling unit is most likely to win or at least get very close to winning the tournament,” Nortje said. “And there’s no one specific way to become smarter as a bowler. It’s all about being as unpredictable as possible on the day, reading the game situation, and using the conditions.”

It’s a telling observation from someone who’s seen the landscape shift rapidly — especially with the introduction of the ‘Impact Player’ rule.

“Yes, it has become challenging for bowlers, especially with the impact player rule. For us, you see, sometimes Moeen (Ali) bats at nine. So it’s a long line-up. Everyone can bat. Even proper top-order batters are coming down the order now. That makes the death overs even tougher, even if you’ve taken wickets up front,” Nortje explained.

But he’s quick to highlight that bowlers are evolving too.

“Since the Impact Player rule has come in, bowlers have become smarter. We’re trying to make things as difficult as we can for the batters. But at the end of the day, we can only bowl within those lines, or one or two bouncers per over. In the second innings, the ball sometimes gets soft and skids because of dew — so there’s only so much you can do.”

“We’re looking forward, not back”

Reflecting on KKR’s season so far, Nortje stressed the importance of momentum and forward focus.

“Look, you cannot change the past,” he said. “Yes, there were one or two performances when we haven’t clicked (as a team). Whatever happened has happened. We needed a little bit of momentum, which we got in the last game (against Delhi). Hopefully now we can take this momentum forward. So, we’re not looking back at the season; we are looking forward.”

𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫! 💜 💪l pic.twitter.com/p34SAn4FCa

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) May 4, 2025

With the playoff door only slightly ajar, KKR’s margin for error is zero. Nortje, however, says the team isn’t obsessing over the numbers.

“For us, it’s one game at a time. We don’t want to look too far ahead. We aren’t looking at all four games at once — we’re trying to focus on one game and how we’re going to win it. Whether you are batting or bowling, we need to focus on each of those 120 deliveries. Staying in the moment is very important. We really want to put our best foot forward in the remaining four matches.”

Meanwhile Nortje is confident the team has the tools — particularly in the bowling department — to adapt to the demands of crunch-time cricket.

“As we get closer to the end of the competition, the wickets are deteriorating, and that’s becoming a very crucial factor — if it hasn’t been already. But we have a versatile bowling unit, and we’re well placed to adapt. It’s about reading the conditions and picking the right bowlers for them,” he said. “In our team, there’s a lot of variety. But I think tosses will also play a huge role — some venues favour batting first, some batting second.”

“The powerplay has been superb for us”

While KKR’s bowlers haven’t consistently picked up early wickets this season, Nortje believes the unit has performed well overall.

KKR’s powerplay bowling stats in IPL 2025 show an average economy rate of 10.9 runs per over, with the unit taking 17 wickets and conceding an average of 68.4 runs per match. The opposition has lost an average of 1.2 wickets during KKR’s powerplay, suggesting the bowlers have been effective in containing the opposition, but only in patches. There is room for improvement in terms of picking up early wickets.

“To be honest, I think the boys have been bowling really well. Everyone’s trying to chip in. Harshit (Rana) has been good. Varun (Chakaravarthy) is doing well. Moeen (Ali) sometimes bowls in the powerplay. Yes, there were one or two games where we haven’t taken enough wickets in the first six overs, but that’s cricket. You can’t always get the opposition three down early. Overall, I think we’ve been superb in the powerplay.”

Having shared dressing rooms with Ajinkya Rahane at Delhi and now at KKR, Nortje holds the veteran Indian batter in high regard.

“I first met him while playing for Delhi. He’s been a great individual, a great person, and an ultimate professional on and off the field. He has always put in the hard work, and it’s good to see him doing well. So, it has been great playing under him.”

“South Africa has a real shot at WTC glory”

Even as the IPL unfolds, Nortje has one eye on the upcoming World Test Championship Final against Australia at the Lord’s, where South Africa will aim to capture their first major ICC title in the format.

“It will be massive if we can win this. The way the team has gone about their business recently — they’ve been doing really well and putting in the hard work. Most of the time, everyone in the team is performing or chipping in. It’s a complete team effort. I’m really excited to see the WTC Final get underway, and hopefully — I’m sure — we will lift the trophy.”

“Kolkata has been great — I’m enjoying the banter”

Despite limited game time this season, Nortje has enjoyed being part of the KKR setup and soaking in the Eden Gardens atmosphere.

“Kolkata has been great so far. The team and the fans have been amazing. The ground (Eden Gardens), of course, is an iconic one. The atmosphere in the team is great. Off the field, I’m enjoying the banter in the dressing room.”

Whether or not KKR make the playoffs, one thing is certain: in a tournament where the bat often gets the headlines, Anrich Nortje’s voice is a reminder that intelligence can trump raw power. If his theory proves correct, it won’t be the biggest hitters but the smartest bowling units who determine the ultimate champions of this cricket extravaganza.