Nortje has now fully recovered from his most recent setback - a stress reaction that sidelined him from South Africa\u2019s winter assignments. As a result, he was not included in the squads for the T20 series in Zimbabwe or the white-ball tours to Australia and England. His last appearance for South Africa came in the T20 World Cup final in June 2024.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Since then, the 30-year-old quick had been considered for a Test comeback last summer, but a fractured toe followed by a back injury derailed those plans. Nortje missed the SA20, made a brief return during the IPL - playing just two matches for the Kolkata Knight Riders - and skipped both the MLC and international cricket to focus on a lengthy rehabilitation program.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"From a personal perspective and a group perspective, it's going to be great to get back out on the park. I'm always positive, always motivated, and excited, but when you get towards the end of rehab, you want to get going because you know what is around the corner. So the last week or two have probably been more frustrating than the other months,\u201d Nortje said in a statement issued by the Dolphins on Tuesday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The T20 Challenge, scheduled from October 29 to November 30, will feature all eight Division 1 teams facing each other once before moving into an IPL-style playoff phase comprising an Eliminator and two Qualifiers ahead of the final. This format gives Nortje the opportunity to play up to 10 matches over the next month, though not for his home side, Eastern Province.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
While Nortje hasn\u2019t explicitly stated his intention to push for a national comeback, a strong and injury-free run in the tournament, followed by a good showing in the SA20 with Sunrisers Eastern Cape, could put him back in contention for South Africa.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The T20 Challenge, scheduled from October 29 to November 30, will feature all eight Division 1 teams facing each other once before moving into an IPL-style playoff phase comprising an Eliminator and two Qualifiers ahead of the final. This format gives Nortje the opportunity to play up to 10 matches over the next month, though not for his home side, Eastern Province.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Dolphins made it to the final of last year\u2019s CSA T20 Challenge but fell short against the Johannesburg-based Lions.<\/p>\r\n\r\n