Anrich Nortje, South Africa's fiery right-arm fast bowler, has often been a critical asset to his teams, but his career has also been marked by injury setbacks.

Nortje has faced recurring fitness issues, including back and hip injuries, that have occasionally sidelined him from international cricket and T20 leagues.

And his latest injury has ruled him out of the series against Pakistan. The pacer has reportedly fractured his foot, which forced him to be sidelined ahead of the T20I series against Pakistan.

Amid this, the future of Nortje in the IPL 2025 has come under question. The South Africa pace star was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 6 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction, and is expected to be a key part of their bowling setup. But his current situation has heightened questions about his fitness during IPL.

Nortje, who played for Delhi Capitals last season, is expected to be fit before the IPL, but given his injury history, KKR may have to be prepared for a possible replacement. Here are four possible replacements the Knight Riders can look into for Nortje-

William O'Rourkee

Despite his excellent Test series against India, New Zealand pacer William O'Rourkee couldn't find a team in the mega auction. But KKR will benefit with someone like him, who has excellent discipline up front with the ball. And with his price tag, the player will come very cheap for KKR as well.

Gus Atkinson

Gus Atkinson has been excellent for England across all formats but the English pacer was not sold in the auction. KKR had him in their ranks but Atkinson's injury ruled him out. But if Nortje misses out, the Knight Riders can switch their attention to Atkinson. The 26-year-old is currently in excellent form and can be a valued addition to the KKR squad.

Navdeep Saini

Navdeep Saini is another surprising unsold player in the IPL 2025 mega auction and KKR can rope in the India pacer to replace Nortje. Saini, who has a plethora of IPL experience, can be a handy signing for the defending champions. The Delhi-born pacer has had a decent time with India A and will be keen to revive his career, and an IPL opportunity may be exactly what he needs.

Chris Jordan

A T20 veteran, Chris Jordan, will be a feasible option for Kolkata Knight Riders if they are to replace Nortje. Jordan has a host of IPL experience with his stints with a few franchise, and his overall T20 experience makes the England bowler an enticing option for any team. He plays for Trinbago Knight Riders in CPL T20, which is the sister team of KKR.