Ottniel Baartman (l) and the PSL trophy After Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani and Sri Lanka’s Dasun Shanaka, South African fast bowler Ottniel Baartman could be the third foreign player to ditch the Pakistan Super League (PSL) to join an Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise.The 33-year-old right-arm fast bowler pulled out of the PSL last week and Pakistani news outlet Geo Super reported on Monday that PSL franchise Hyderabad Kingsmen are considering their options to replace Baartman.
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CSK is organizing a fan engagement event in Chepauk ahead of IPL 2026 As reported by Geo Super, the PSL franchise has approached Sri Lankan spinner Mahesh Theekshana to join the tournament.
Which IPL franchise can Baartman join?
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have emerged as the frontrunners in Baartman after Nathan Ellis was ruled out for the season.The Australian quick has been sidelined with a hamstring injury and Baartman could be a similar replacement for CSK.However, it is not yet clear why Baartman quit the PSL, nor is there any reliable information about him joining any of the IPL franchises.Earlier on Monday, Sri Lanka T20I captain Dasun Shanaka was confirmed as the replacement for injured England all-rounder Sam Curran at the Rajasthan Royals camp for IPL 2026.Shanaka joins Rajasthan Royals (RR) for Rs 2 crore. Shanaka’s move to RR makes him the second international player after Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani to leave the Pakistan Super League for the Indian Premier League.After failing to sell in the IPL auction, Shanaka was called up by PSL team Lahore Qalandars.Rajasthan Royals will start their IPL 2026 with a home match in Guwahati against Chennai Super Kings on March 30.
