South African speedster Lungi Ngidi reignited his white-ball career with a string of standout performances, most notably a match-winning five-wicket haul against Australia at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay. The tall right-arm pacer was instrumental in helping South Africa defend a 277-run total (Photos: AFP)
Updated On: 2025-08-23 06:21 PM IST
Compiled by : Super Admin
His recent exploits, including a three-wicket burst in the second innings of the WTC 2025 final, have significantly boosted his value in the T20 market. With the IPL 2026 trade window approaching, there is growing speculation that Ngidi could seek a move away from Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), either through a trade or release, in search of a more prominent role and a potentially more lucrative contract
CSK eye Ngidi to fix death overs conundrum
One of the frontrunners in the race for Ngidi could be the Chennai Super Kings. CSK’s performance in the middle and death overs during IPL 2025 was far from convincing. The franchise leaked runs at an alarming rate of 10.64 runs per over in these critical phases and struggled to take wickets consistently, requiring nearly 19 balls per dismissal.
Ngidi, who has an impressive T20 strike rate of a wicket every 14.5 deliveries, could be the solution. His ability to exploit Chennai’s slow and gripping pitches with hit-the-deck deliveries and sharp cutters makes him a perfect fit for MS Dhoni's bowling attack, especially in the latter stages of an innings
Delhi Capitals in need of stability
Another team likely to show interest is the Delhi Capitals, whose pace attack lacked teeth beyond Mitchell Starc in IPL 2025. While Starc claimed 14 wickets, the supporting cast underperformed. Dushmantha Chameera conceded runs at an economy of 11.40, and veteran Mohit Sharma picked just two wickets in eight games. T Natarajan’s injury woes further weakened their bowling unit
Ngidi could provide the Capitals with both penetration and control. His proven ability to handle pressure situations and bowl across all three phases, powerplay, middle overs, and death, makes him a valuable target for Delhi heading into a crucial rebuild
Gujarat Titans searching for a reliable overseas pacer
Gujarat Titans, too, may enter the trade fray, given their struggles with overseas pacers. Kagiso Rabada’s stint was cut short due to a ban, and Gerald Coetzee's economy rate of 10.91 was a major concern. Apart from Prasidh Krishna, GT lacked consistent performers in their pace department.
Ngidi’s experience, skill set, and composure on flat tracks like Ahmedabad’s could prove vital for GT. His ability to deliver under pressure and bowl crucial overs in high-scoring games makes him a strong candidate to fortify their bowling unit for the 2026 season
