South African pacer Lungi Ngidi talked about his time with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and how MS Dhoni's trust in him helped his confidence. He also credited IPL for teaching him how to handle playing in front of a big crowd.
Ngidi rose into the ranks after his heroics in his debut Test series against India in 2018. His impressive debut earned him his maiden IPL contract as he was picked by CSK for INR 50 lakhs at the IPL 2018 auction.
In what was CSK’s comeback season after the spot-fixing scandal, Ngidi played a vital role in his team’s title-winning triumph. He took 11 wickets in 7 matches and was Dhoni’s go-to bowler in crucial and difficult stages of the match for the following years as well.
Lungi Ngidi lavished rich praise on Dhoni. He said that the keeper batter putting his trust in him to win the matches was massive for him. He credited IPL for teaching him to play in front of big crowds.
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"Having someone of Dhoni’s calibre put his trust in me to win him games when I was 22 was massive for me. The IPL also taught me how to handle a big crowd. I’d never played in front of 60,000 people and that was a bit overwhelming at the start. But once you get going it’s a breeze,” Lungi Ngidi said to The Guardian.
Ngidi, who was brought by Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2022, also praised skipper Rishabh Pant and said that bowling to him in the nets helped him grow as a cricketer.
"Even this year, in Delhi, Rishabh Pant has been so good. He’s young but he already has so much influence within the game and being able to bowl to him in the nets and run ideas past him helps you grow as a cricketer,” he said.
Ngidi said that whenever he feels a little down, Kagiso Rabada motivates him by reminding him that he is a two-time IPL winner.
“When I talk to Kagiso Rabada, if I am a little down he’ll remind me: ‘You’re an IPL winner, twice, and you’ve won man of the match awards. So why are you sitting here denouncing yourself?” he said.
Ngidi didn’t get a single match in IPL 2022. He will be next seen in the action in the Test series between England and South Africa, starting 19th July.
(The Guardian inputs)
