After her historic campaign in the 2025 ODI World Cup, Nadine de Klerk stormed headines and for a change, a South African star was grabbing the headlines in the women's game. It's not like there haven't been superstars from South Africa in women's cricket - current captain Laura Wolvaardt is arguably the next big thing in batting - but de Klerk's all-round game screamed 'box office'.
De Klerk hammered 208 runs at a briliant strike rate of 131 and also picked up nine wickets in the nine games to cap off a terrific campaign. As a child, de Klerk was spoilt for choice in sports. She always had the skill in cricket but was equally gifted at javelin throw and field hockey.
As she grew up, de Klerk had to take a call on prioritizing a sport and that's when cricket happened. The 25-year-old is still not quite at the peak of her powers but is soon approaching her prime as a cricketer. Which is why the low bids at the WPL 2026 auctions came as a surprise. Not that Royal Challengers Bengaluru are complaining - snapping her at just Rs 65 lakh was a massive steal.
The South African has started WPL 2026 with a bang by picking up four wickets in the tournament opener against Mumbai Indians in Navi Mumbai on Friday (January 9). Two of those wickets were the big scalps of Harmanpreet Kaur and Nat Sciver-Brunt although both dismissals were largely wicket-keeper Richa Ghosh's doing than the deliveries bowled.
Regardless, de Klerk bowled with outstanding control and varied her pace cleverly to keep MI's batters in check. Even when Nicola Carey and Sajeevan Sajana were going great guns, de Klerk returned to break the stand by getting rid of the Indian batter.