Fast bowler Anrich Nortje ‘was busy getting meat for a braai that night’, when bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders at Tuesday’s Indian Premier League player auction in Jaipur.

Nortje will play alongside New Zealand pace ace Lockie Ferguson, West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite and several other international stars at the 2019 IPL.

‘I didn’t really expect to get picked up, but I thought, well, definitely give it a shot. When I got on the shortlist I was quite happy. I was in Struisbaai in the Western Cape, just in a shopping centre when someone phoned me and I heard,’ Nortje told ESPNcricinfo.

The 25-year-old recently underwent ankle surgery, but prior to that performed superbly for the Cape Town Blitz in the Mzansi Super League, occasionally opening the bowling alongside Proteas fast bowler Dale Steyn.

‘Without that, I wouldn’t have been picked up. It was my first big T20 tournament. I’d like to get more exposure from here on, and IPL would definitely help that,’ he added.

I’m just excited to be playing in the IPL. If I can get a game, that would probably be the most exciting thing for me. It doesn’t really bother me who I’m bowling to, or whatever. I just want to play and just do my thing.

‘I’d definitely like to play for the Proteas. I’d play any time, any format, it doesn’t matter what it is. I just want to get into the green and gold and play for South Africa.’

Photo: Gallo