Cricket news - Shoulder injury rules Anrich Nortje out of IPL 2019

Kolkata Knight Riders continue to be afflicted by the injury bug with Anrich Nortje becoming the latest to be ruled out of IPL 2019 after sustaining a shoulder injury.

Nortje, who was snapped up by the Knight Riders at his base price of INR 20 lakh, is the third KKR fast bowler ruled out of this year's tournament following the withdrawal of the Indian pair of Shivam Mavi and Kamlesh Nagarkoti.

Nortje came to the spotlight during last year's Mzansi Super League, when he claimed eight wickets from three games at an economy of 6.91. His ability to bowl at high pace caught the eye of KKR despite the 25-year-old being sidelined during the IPL auction with an ankle injury.

Nortje returned to action and made his ODI debut in the just-concluded series against Sri Lanka, which he finished with 8 wickets from four games at an impressive average of 18.75 He was subsequently in the squad for the three-match T20I series but didn't take the field in Tuesday's (March 19) opener at Newlands.

KKR, who are now left with a 20-member squad, will now seek a replacement for Nortje to add some heft to their rapidly dwindling fast-bowling resource.

They had already called up Sandeep Warrier and KC Cariappa as replacements for Mavi and Nagarkoti.