Who is Patrick Kruger? 3 interesting facts about South Africa all-rounder picked for West Indies T20Is

On Wednesday (August 14), all-rounder Patrick Kruger was named in the 15-member South Africa squad for the T20I series against West Indies. The three-match series is set to take place from August 24 to 28 at the Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba in Trinidad.

Kruger made his first-class debut at the age of 18 while playing for Griqualand West in February 2013. Since then, he has accumulated over 6,000 runs and more than 170 wickets in 250 domestic appearances.

The 29-year-old made his T20I debut in May this year against West Indies and remained unbeaten on 16 off 13. However, he could not find a place in the T20 World Cup squad.

On that note, let's take a look at the few interesting facts about Patrick Kruger, who is expected to be among the key players for the Proteas in T20Is.

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#1 Gained recognition after being chosen Africa T20 Cup Player of the Tournament

Although Patrick Kruger had already featured across all formats until 2014, he broke into the scene after being selected the Africa T20 Cup Player of the Tournament in 2016.

Kruger amassed 200 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 170 and helped Northern Cape to emerge as a runner-up. He hit 82 off 45, with seven fours and five sixes in the semifinal against North West. Interestingly, he was the top batter for the team in the 2018 edition as well.

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#2 Played for champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape in SA20 2024

With impressive performances over the years, Patrick Kruger finally made his SA20 debut in 2024 for the Sunrisers Eastern Cape. He mustered 62 runs in five innings and picked up four wickets.

Kruger came into the limelight with his quickfire cameo of 26* off 7, with three lusty blows against Paarl Royals, which helped them to seal the chase of 160 and also finish on top of the table. Earlier, he returned with his best figures of 3/8 against Joburg Super Kings.

The middle-order batter contributed 11 in Qualifier 1, while not getting the opportunity to bat in the final game, as the Sunrisers went to successfully defend their crown.

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#3 Credits SA20 for improvement in his game

After receiving his maiden call-up earlier this year, Patrick Kruger credited the SA20 for helping him to become a better version of himself. According to him, the league provided him with an opportunity to rub shoulders with experienced players, which, in turn, gave an indication on his areas of improvement. Here's what Kruger said:

“The SA20 was big for me because it gave me a lot of self confidence, I grew personally, I saw myself differently in a cricketing sense, which helped me make better decisions on the field, whether I was batting, bowling or in the field." [H/t Club Cricket SA]

“It is not as big as international cricket, but you do play with seasoned players who have been successful in high pressure situations, it also gives you an idea of which areas of your own game need improvement," he added.

It will be interesting to see whether Patrick Kruger can live up to the expectations of the selectors and help South Africa prevail in the T20I series against West Indies.