His figures of 4 for 29, replacing Tabraiz Shamsi in the playing XI, underscored his impact on the game against India.
Born on March 29, 1996, in Durban, Lungi Ngidi is one of the fastest bowlers in the world who is on a mission to turn South Africa into a formidable force in cricket. Since debuting in T20I for South Africa in 2017, Ngidi's career trajectory has been nothing short of remarkable. Once he stepped onto that field, there was no looking back. Today, as we celebrate his birthday, let's take a moment to revisit some of his top five stellar performances.
Ngidi's extraordinary bowling figures of 6/39 in the second inning left the Indian batters stunned.
Ngidi's extraordinary bowling figures of 6/39 in the second inning left the Indian batters stunned. His spectacular debut performance led South Africa to a 135-run victory in the second Test at Centurion Park. With figures of 6/39 in the second inning, Ngidi left the Indian batters struggling for survival. He dismantled their lineup, dismissing key players such as Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Parthiv Patel, and the tail-enders Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Jasprit Bumrah. This victory sealed the Freedom Series for South Africa with an unassailable 2-0 lead.
Ngidi's mastery was evident as he dismantled the Australian batting order in the ODI clash between South Africa and Australia. His relentless onslaught resulted in the crucial dismissals of top-order batters like David Warner and Steve Smith, along with middle-order stalwarts including Alex Carey and Ashton Agar. His exceptional figures of six wickets for 58 runs underscored his ability to maintain pressure and claim crucial breakthroughs. Ngidi's pivotal role earned him well-deserved recognition as the Player of the Match and propelled South Africa to a resounding victory by six wickets.
Lungi Ngidi and Dwaine Pretorius erupt in jubilation as Ngidi dismisses the formidable Ben Stokes.
In the T20I clash between England and South Africa, Ngidi conceded 39 runs while claiming five crucial wickets, dismantling the England batting lineup with finesse. His scalps included notable names like Jason Roy, Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes, and Liam Livingstone, showcasing his ability to dismiss key opposition batters. His ability to strike at crucial moments disrupted England's momentum and played a significant role in limiting them to a total of 234. Despite Ngidi's remarkable efforts, South Africa lost the match by 41 runs.
Lungi Ngidi celebrates after dismissing the formidable batsman Virat Kohli during the T20 World Cup.
In a pivotal T20 World Cup clash between South Africa and India, Ngidi rose to the occasion with an exceptional bowling display. His figures of 4 for 29, replacing Tabraiz Shamsi in the playing XI, underscored his impact on the game. Ngidi's dismissals included none other than the Indian captain Rohit Sharma, opener KL Rahul, the renowned Virat Kohli, and the hard-hitting Hardik Pandya. South Africa successfully chased India's 133 runs, reaching 137/5 in 19.4 overs. Ngidi's outstanding performance rightfully earned him the prestigious Player of the Match title.
Ngidi's bowling spell was magical. He took an incredible four wickets for just ten runs against KXIP in the IPL. No wonder he snagged the Player of the Match award. In the showdown, KXIP took their turn at bat first, managing a modest 153 runs. He sent top-order batsmen KL Rahul and Chris Gayle packing early on, followed by the crucial dismissals of Andrew Tye and Ravichandran Ashwin. CSK chased down the target of 154 runs with five wickets in hand.
As Lungi Ngidi celebrates his 28th birthday this year, we send him our warmest wishes for all his future endeavours, both on and off the cricket field. Happy Birthday, Ngidi!
