"... didn't look like he could bat... He was hitting balls standing still" - Anrich Nortje recalls bowling to MS Dhoni during a CSK net session
South Africa quick Anrich Nortje has recalled an amusing incident involving MS Dhoni from a net session during the 2010 Champions League Twenty20 in South Africa.
Anrich Nortje, now one of the most fearsome bowlers in the Proteas lineup, was just a teenager when he was called to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) camp as a net bowler.
Nortje didn't know most of the batsmen he bowled to and it was much later that he realized that the one who played most of his shots 'almost standing still' was MS Dhoni.
Appearing on the Grade Cricketer's YouTube channel, Anrich Nortje said:
"I remember bowling to MS in the nets there, didn't look like he wanted to be there, didn't look like he could bat, to be honest. But I didn't realize it was him. He was hitting a couple of balls almost standing still not using any feet as he does (chuckles). I actually think that everyone was trying to block everything... they were just trying to get his eye in at the start I think."
The 2010 Champions League T20 was the second edition of the tournament and the MS Dhoni-led CSK emerged as the winners for the first time.
"I'd rather take a one-for and win the game than a five-for and lose" - Anrich Nortje
Anrich Nortje also spoke about his outstanding 5-56 against Pakistan in Rawalpindi, which he had called 'special' despite his team suffering a 95-run defeat.
The pacer clarified that although it was a standout moment for him, he will still pick a small contribution in the team's victory over a fifer in the team's loss.
"Yeah that's true but, I mean, at the end... you want to win. In the moment, maybe there's a good feeling about it but when you look back at it you still want to win. I'd rather take a one-for and win the game than a five-for [and lose]. But yeah, there's been certain moments that stood out in the season and doing it in Pakistan was one of them."
Anrich Nortje has played 24 internationals for his country, picking up 63 wickets. He was recently named South Africa Men's Cricketer of the Year.