Indian Premier League (IPL) side Punjab Kings have signed Australia’s pace bowler Nathan Ellis for the second half of the T20 tournament.
Ellis, who became the first male player to secure a T20 hat-trick on his debut against Bangladesh this month, was recently named as one of Australia’s three reserve players for the T20 World Cup, which begins in October.
In a recent statement, Punjab Kings said, “Earlier today, Punjab Kings announced a new addition to their roster, roping in new Australian sensation Nathan Ellis. The pacer will be part of the squad for the remainder of the 2021 VIVO Indian Premier League, and is expecting the join the team camp shortly after finishing his quarantine.”
With a base price of INR 20 lakh, Ellis had remained unsold in the IPL auction earlier this year. The pacer will now be seen as a replacement for Kiley Meredith and Kane Richardson who are set to miss the remainder of the IPL.
Nathan Ellis was one of the standout performers of the 2021 Big Bash League. He was the leading wicket-taker for his franchise Hobart Hurricanes, accounting for 20 wickets in just 14 games. He played all games for the franchise this season and almost got them to the knockout stages.
Ellis gained a reputation for being a genuine wicket-taker for his franchise, with an impressive bowling average of just over 22. With plenty of variations and tricks up his sleeve, the young Australian pacer would now be optimistic of having the same impact in the 2021 VIVO IPL when he takes the field for Punjab Kings.
The cash-rich tournament is scheduled to resume from September 19 in the United Arab Emirates where Mumbai Indians will take on Chennai Super Kings in the first fixture, with the final set for October 15.