IPL 2016: Former CSK hard-hitter Albie Morkel joins MS Dhoni at Rising Pune Supergiants

South African all-rounder Albie Morkel has been roped in by IPL franchisee Rising Pune Supergiants ahead of IPL 2016.

The 34-year-old right-arm medium-fast bowler and left-handed batsman started his IPL career with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and he moved to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) ahead of the 2014 season. Morkel continued his exploits in the cash-rich Indian cricket tournament and he was subsequently bought by Delhi Daredevils for Rs 30 lakh.

His performance of scoring 241 runs and taking 17 wickets for CSK in the first season of the IPL is still fresh in the memory of cricket fans. Morkel was all over the news earlier on Thursday as well as he was a notable exclusion from the Proteas' ICC World T20 2016 15-man squad.

Meanwhile, Indian middle-order batsman Saurabh Tiwary, who has played with the Mumbai Indians, RCB and Delhi Daredevils, joins Morkel at the new IPL side to be led by India T20 skipper MS Dhoni.

"Pune Supergiants have added more firepower to their batting line up by acquiring the services of all-rounder Morkel and specialist batsman Tiwary," IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla was quoted by NDTV.

The Pune franchisee, which will participate in the next two seasons of the IPL, boasts big names like Kevin Pietersen, Ishant Sharma, Mitchell Marsh, Ajinkya Rahane, Faf du Plessis and Steven Smith.