South African speedster Anrich Nortje is gearing up for a return to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the IPL 2025 season, promising an exciting campaign. Despite a brief setback due to a back injury that kept him out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Nortje is fully recovered and eager to make his mark for the defending champions. This season marks his first opportunity to play for KKR, having been sidelined in 2019.

Nortje's KKR Reunion

KKR showed unwavering faith in Nortje, securing his services for INR 6.5 crore at the mega auction last year. Nortje expressed his excitement about finally being part of the Kolkata team and is thrilled to play at the iconic Eden Gardens, acknowledging the passionate KKR fanbase.

Ready to Shine at Eden Gardens

In a heartfelt video shared by KKR on their official X handle, Nortje conveyed his enthusiasm, stating, “KKR was the first to back me, and it’s just great to be here (in Kolkata) again.” He is looking forward to the season opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on March 22.

“Beautiful place, beautiful ground to be at, really excited to be and looking forward to that first game,” said Nortje in the video. “The most important thing for now is just to get the prep done,” he added, “but you are nice to just take everything in for now and hopefully build up to a successful season.”

Nortje also extended his gratitude to the fans for their continued support, expressing a strong desire to see them at the stadium.

Nortje's IPL Career So Far

Nortje’s IPL journey, which started in 2020 with Delhi Capitals, has been marked by impressive performances. He has played 46 matches, taking 60 wickets with an impressive strike rate of 17.5. He is known for his raw pace and ability to trouble batsmen. His return to competitive cricket comes after recovering from recent injury setbacks, including a toe injury. KKR, led by coach Chandrakant Pandit, assistant coach Otis Gibson, and mentor Dwayne Bravo, aims to defend their IPL title, having won three times previously (2012, 2014, and 2024) and finished as runners-up in 2021.