2024-03-28 12:04:24
Jaipur: South African left-arm fast bowler Nandre Berger never wanted to become a cricketer but chose the sport for free education. He got admission and full scholarship to the University of the Witwatersrand through cricket trials in 2014. Since then he did not look back. 28-year-old South African fast bowler Burger made his debut for the national team in December last year.
Rajasthan Royals bought him for Rs 50 lakh while he also played for Johannesburg Super Kings in the SA20 last month. Burger said, ‘Seems strange, doesn’t it? Wits was giving scholarships to students who play cricket. I didn’t want to become a cricketer but there was no harm in trying my hand for free education. Cricket was a backup for my studies.
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His university coach Neil Levenson saw in him a capable fast bowler. Burger said, ‘At first I laughed that I bowl at a speed of 125 km per hour. I can’t put from 145km. I still agreed to them and then I started enjoying. It is noteworthy that Nandre has taken 11 wickets in 2 Tests and 5 wickets in 3 ODIs for South Africa. Apart from this, he has 138 wickets in his name in first class cricket, while playing 63 matches in List-A cricket and 67 wickets in his T-20 career, he has taken 67 wickets.
He further said- Shawn said, ‘I am sure you are very excited.’ I still didn’t understand it, so I said, ‘Yeah, it’s good, I think I got my first (ODI) wicket, so it’s a great feeling.’ Then he says, ‘No man, I mean IPL. You are going to play for Rajasthan Royals.
He further said- Everyone was saying ‘Congratulations’ and I was unaware of what was happening. After the game, when I turned on my phone, all I read was ‘congratulations, congratulations, congratulations’ and ‘awesome, awesome’. I did not do that.’ I don’t know whether it was for sports or IPL.