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Nandre Burger

Nandre Burger (born 11 August 1995) is a South African professional cricketer who specializes as a left-arm fast-medium bowler for the South Africa national team and Western Province in domestic cricket. Burger began his first-class career with Gauteng in 2016 and transitioned to the Lions franchise before joining Western Province. He gained prominence in domestic cricket by topping the bowling averages in the 2017-18 provincial one-day competition. His consistent performances earned him a call-up to the national side in late 2023, where he made rapid debuts across formats against India: T20I on 14 December, ODI on 17 December, and Test on 26 December at Centurion. In his Test debut, Burger impressed with his pace and swing, taking key wickets to help secure South Africa's victory and marking him as a promising all-format quick. He continued to represent South Africa in international cricket through 2025, including T20I matches in October. Beyond international cricket, Burger has featured in major T20 leagues, including the for —where he was re-signed for R6.3 million ahead of the 2025 season—and formerly the for , debuting in 2024. He has also represented teams like Blitz, Nelson Mandela Bay Giants, and international franchises such as and , showcasing his versatility in limited-overs formats.

Early life

Background and initial sports interests

Nandre Burger was born on 11 August 1995 in , , , where he grew up in an environment that encouraged active participation in through family and local community activities. During his early teenage years, Burger's primary focus was on racquet sports, particularly and . By age 15, he had risen to become one of the top players in his age-group regional championships, showcasing considerable talent in the . At 17, he advanced to compete in 's national championships, further demonstrating his prowess in at a provincial level. Burger initially aspired to a professional career on the ATP tennis tour, inspired by his success and passion for the game. Later, he planned to pursue a qualification in , reflecting his academic interests alongside athletics. A persistent back injury eventually prompted him to pivot away from these pursuits.

Transition to cricket and education

In his late teens, Nandre Burger suffered a persistent back injury that effectively ended his promising careers in and , where he had achieved regional success in the former and competed at levels in the latter. Seeking a recreational alternative, he turned to at age 18 in 2014, initially viewing the sport as a casual pursuit rather than a serious commitment. Burger's first exposure to cricket came through local clubs in Gauteng, where he began honing his skills as a left-arm fast bowler. He received initial coaching under Neil Levenson, the University of the Witwatersrand's coach, who identified his raw potential during a trial session. This trial not only introduced him to structured training but also opened doors to formal opportunities in the sport. To support his education, Burger enrolled in a program at the (Wits) in , securing a full through his involvement, which he saw primarily as a means to fund his studies without financial burden. However, after one year, in the 2016-17 season—just six months shy of completing his degree—he chose to drop out and dedicate himself fully to , accepting a professional contract with the Cape Cobras franchise in . This pivot marked the beginning of his transition from student-athlete to professional cricketer.

Domestic career

Provincial and first-class cricket

Burger made his first-class debut for during the 2015–16 Sunfoil 3-Day Cup on 11 February 2016 against South Western Districts at , where he claimed 3/48 in the . Over the next few seasons, he established himself as a reliable left-arm seamer for the province, contributing to 's efforts in the competition with consistent performances that highlighted his ability to extract bounce and swing. In the 2017–18 and 2018–19 seasons, Burger transitioned to the Lions franchise, where he gained experience in higher-level first-class cricket but struggled for regular game time. In 2019, Burger transferred to Western Province ahead of the 2019–20 season and was signed by the franchise team Cape Cobras, marking a significant step in his domestic career as he relocated to Cape Town to focus on professional opportunities. His move paid dividends early, with a standout 2019–20 campaign where he captured 18 wickets across four first-class matches at an average of 22.38, including a five-wicket haul. The following 2020–21 season saw further promise, exemplified by his 5/52 against Easterns, which underscored his growing threat in multi-day formats. As of November 2025, Burger had played 45 domestic first-class matches, securing 156 wickets at an average of 24.50, with career-best figures of 7/45. His provincial career also earned him recognition at a higher level, including selection for the A tour of in the 2022–23 season, where he gained valuable experience against international-standard opposition.

Limited-overs domestic cricket

Burger made his List A debut for Gauteng against North West on 26 February 2017 in the CSA Provincial One-Day Challenge. In his early seasons, he quickly established himself as a promising white-ball bowler, highlighted by his leading wicket-taker performance in the 2017–18 edition of the competition, where he claimed 19 wickets at an average of 11.84. A standout spell came in the 2018–19 season when he took 4/35 against North West, restricting them to a low total and contributing to Gauteng's victory. After switching to Western Province ahead of the 2019–20 season—a move that aligned with his growing reputation in shorter formats—he continued to excel, recording career-best domestic List A figures of 6/38 against the Lions in the 2023 CSA One Day Cup. Burger's T20 domestic career began earlier, with his debut for against South Western Districts on 14 February 2016 in the Provincial T20 Challenge. He showed immediate potential in the shorter format, notably as the leading wicket-taker in the 2018 Africa T20 Cup for , where he secured 11 wickets across the tournament. Following his provincial switch, Burger delivered key performances for Western Province, including a match-winning 3/18 against South Western Districts in the 2021–22 Provincial T20 Cup, helping defend a modest total. His ability to generate swing and pace under lights made him a vital asset in T20 attacks. As of November 2025, Burger had accumulated strong domestic limited-overs statistics, playing 62 List A matches and taking 98 wickets at an average of 25.80. In T20 cricket, he featured in 78 matches, claiming 112 wickets at an average of 22.10, demonstrating consistent impact in powerplay and death overs.

International career

Test cricket

Nandre Burger made his Test debut for on 26 December 2023 against at SuperSport Park in . In the first , he claimed 3 wickets for 54 runs, contributing to India's total of 245 all out, before taking 4 for 33 in the second to help secure a comprehensive victory for . His match figures of 7 for 83 marked an impressive start to his career, showcasing his ability to generate pace and movement on a lively pitch. Burger also featured in the second Test against at , in January 2024, where he took 3 for 42 in India's first innings and 1 for 29 in the second. Burger featured in the 2024 two-Test series against , where he took 3 for 49 in the first innings and 0 for 34 in the second innings of the second Test at , aiding South Africa's efforts in a low-scoring encounter. As of November 2025, he had played three Tests overall, capturing 14 wickets at an average of 16.92, with his performances underscoring his emergence as a reliable seam option in the longest format. Burger's batting contributions in Tests have been minimal, aggregating 33 runs across three matches with a highest score of 23, typically fulfilling the lower-order role expected of a specialist bowler. In March 2024, he was awarded his first national contract by , a recognition of his rapid rise and potential in despite his limited appearances to date.

One Day International and T20I cricket

Nandre Burger made his (ODI) debut for against on 17 December 2023 at , claiming 2 wickets for 36 runs in a performance that highlighted his ability to generate with the new ball. His early white-ball international exposure was bolstered by strong domestic limited-overs form, which earned him selection for the national squad. Burger's ODI career has emphasized his role as a left-arm fast-medium bowler capable of exploiting seam movement, particularly in conditions favoring . In key series, Burger delivered a standout spell of 3/30 against during the 2023 home series at . He featured in the 2024 ODIs against in the UAE, where he bowled economically despite challenging conditions, taking 1/68 in the second match amid South Africa's series defeat. More recently, in the 2025 series against , Burger achieved career-best figures of 4/46 in the second match at , dismantling the top order by dismissing Fakhar Zaman, , and Mohammad Rizwan early to restrict to 269/9. He followed with 1/29 in the third , contributing to South Africa's efforts in a competitive tour. Across 12 ODIs, Burger has taken 19 wickets at an average of 29.63, with his best figures of 4/46 and one four-wicket haul establishing him as a reliable option in the Proteas' pace attack. His batting contributions remain minimal, aggregating 24 runs at an average of 12.00, including a highest score of 8*, typically coming in as a lower-order tail-ender. Burger's has provided vital breakthroughs in the powerplay and middle overs, though his economy rate of 6.01 reflects the challenges of white-ball against aggressive batting lineups. Burger's (T20I) debut came against on 14 December 2023 at , where he bowled 4 overs for 41 runs without a in a high-scoring encounter. Selected as a reserve player for South Africa's 2024 campaign, he did not feature in the tournament but remained part of the squad for potential reinforcement. Limited opportunities in the format have stemmed from intense competition among South Africa's pace resources, including specialists like and . In subsequent T20Is, Burger's appearances have been sporadic, with notable inclusions in the 2025 series against , where he recorded figures of 0/35 and 0/14 across two without claiming wickets but maintaining pressure through disciplined lines. Overall, in 8 T20Is, he has captured 6 wickets at an average of 31.67, with best figures of 1/20, focusing on containing runs in the death overs via yorkers and slower balls. His batting in T20Is is negligible, with just 1 run from a single innings, underscoring his primary utility as a bowler. Burger's T20I impact lies in his versatility to adapt to shorter formats, though he has yet to secure a regular spot amid South Africa's depth.

Franchise and overseas career

Indian Premier League

Nandre Burger entered the (IPL) when he was acquired by the for his base price of INR 50 lakh at the 2024 auction in . In his debut season, he featured in 6 matches, claiming 7 wickets at an average of 20.71 and an economy rate of 8.53, with his best figures of 2/29 coming against . Burger rejoined the Royals for the 2025 season as an injury replacement for , signed for INR 3.5 crore midway through the campaign on May 8. However, he did not feature in any matches that season. As of November 2025, Burger's overall IPL record stood at 6 matches and 7 wickets. The left-arm pacer adapted effectively to the high-stakes environment of the IPL, leveraging his ability to extract swing at speeds exceeding 140 kmph even in the death overs to trouble batters on Jaipur's pitches. Reflecting on his unexpected foray into following his international , Burger described himself as an "accidental cricketer" in an , noting that had initially been a means to fund his studies rather than a primary ambition.

Other franchise leagues

Nandre Burger debuted in the league during its inaugural 2023 season with the , where he featured in five matches and secured two wickets at an economy rate of 9.00. He retained his place in the squad for the edition, delivering a stronger showing with 11 wickets across 11 matches at an economy of 7.94, highlighted by his standout 3/26 in the Eliminator against that helped propel the team forward. Despite the Super Kings' challenges in finishing outside the playoffs, Burger's consistent pace and swing earned him a lucrative re-signing for R6.3 million ahead of the 2025 auction, underscoring his value in South Africa's premier T20 franchise competition. Burger was signed by for the 2025 Bangladesh Premier League but did not participate due to injury and scheduling conflicts. Barishal won the title, chasing down 195 to defeat in the final for their second consecutive BPL crown. Burger has also featured in other international T20 franchises, including two matches for in the , where he took two wickets at an economy of 9.80, and stints with in since 2024, providing key s like 2/40 against . These opportunities in diverse leagues, with overall T20 franchise economy rates hovering around 7.50, significantly boosted his visibility and paved the way for his international breakthrough in late 2023.

Playing style and impact

Bowling technique and strengths

Nandre Burger is a left-arm fast bowler known for his slingy action and powerful approach to the crease, characterized by long, charging strides that build momentum. Standing at 1.88 meters (6 ft 2 in), his height enables him to extract awkward bounce, making his deliveries challenging for batters, particularly with the short ball, which he deploys as a key weapon across formats. Burger's primary strengths lie in his ability to swing the new ball at high speeds, consistently operating in the high 140s km/h and reaching a peak of 153 km/h during the season. He excels at generating inswing to right-handers, bringing the ball back sharply into them, while also possessing the skill to shape it away, allowing movement both ways off the pitch or in the air. This versatility, combined with seam movement, has made him a potent new-ball option, often forming effective partnerships with right-arm quicks like . His accuracy stands out, particularly in powerplay overs where he targets the stumps with precision to build early pressure, and he adapts well to death overs in limited-overs by varying lengths to restrict scoring. In matches, Burger has demonstrated capability with reverse swing on seaming pitches, enhancing his threat in longer spells. As a lower-order left-handed batsman, he contributes minimally, with an international under 50 reflecting his focus on bowling rather than aggressive tail-end hitting.

Injuries and career milestones

Burger sustained a in 2021, which forced him out of action for over a year across the 2021-22 domestic season and required intensive rehabilitation before his return. He staged a strong comeback during the 2022/23 season, using that campaign to rebuild form and pave the way for his international breakthrough the following year. Burger encountered further challenges in 2024, including a stress reaction in October that sidelined him for the remainder of the ODI series against and the subsequent Test series in . Although an initial expected recovery of 4-6 weeks was announced, the injury resulted in an extended absence of approximately eight months. He returned to competitive in May 2025, signing as an injury replacement for in IPL 2025, and demonstrated resilience with strong performances, including a three-wicket haul in a domestic match in June 2025 and a four-wicket haul in the second ODI against in 2025. Among his career milestones, Burger claimed his 50th first-class in 2020, an early indicator of his potential as a domestic stalwart. He received his first national contract from in March 2024, recognizing his rapid rise. During his debut in late 2023, he posed a threat in the format against , though unfulfilled, highlighting his immediate impact with notable bowling spells. By November 2025, Burger had amassed over 300 wickets in domestic cricket and 32 in matches, solidifying his emergence as a key fast bowler for the Proteas.

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