IPL 2023: Sisanda Magala Nervous to Take Part in the Cash-Rich League

South African speedster Sisanda Magala is excited at the same time he is nervous to play his first season in the Indian Premier League. He will play for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) after being roped in as a replacement for injured Kyle Jamieson. The 32-year-old cricketer was announced by the four-time IPL champions as a replacement for injured Black Caps all-rounder Jamieson.

Jamieson, who was bought by Chennai in the IPL 2023 auction for INR 1 crore, suffered a back injury that forced the tall and lanky pacer to be ruled out of the upcoming season. Magala, who went unsold in the auction, earns his maiden IPL contract following brilliant performances in the SA20 league while representing the Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC). The bulky pacer missed the initial part of the tournament due to fitness problems but soon made his debut for the Gqeberha-based team to secure his services for R5.4 million at the auction.

Dream Come True Moment for Magala

He repaid the faith by claiming 14 wickets at an economy rate of 8.68, the joint-fifth-highest in the league in the inaugural edition of the tournament. Magala has participated in 128 T20 games and has picked up 139 wickets but despite all this, he has never played IPL and now he finds himself among the best players in the world to take part in the cash-rich league.

“I’m very happy to be given an opportunity to play in the IPL. When you get to specialise in white ball cricket, then it indeed becomes the pinnacle. It’s a massive opportunity, and to be honest, I’m very nervous. My mother lives in Uitenhage, so it’s a long way from home. I’m very nervous. It’s going to be two months. I haven’t been away from home for that long. It’s new. I’ve asked a couple of guys who’ve played there how they coped and just their advice to handle situations. It’s a huge opportunity, so there will definitely be new learnings. I’m nervous and excited at the same time,” said Sisanda Magala.

Chennai Super Kings Squad for IPL 2023: MS Dhoni (Captain), Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ambati Rayudu, Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwaine Pretorius, Deepak Chahar, Simarjeet Singh, Ajinkya Rahane, Subhranshu Senapati, Shaik Rasheed, Nishant Sindhu, Mitchell Santner, Bhagath Varma, Tushar Deshpande, Sisanda Magala, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Ajay Jadav Mandal, Prashant Solanki, Akash Singh