Chennai Super Kings seeking after Lungi Ngidi’s replacement: The defending champions are looking to find a suitable replacement for their injured pacer.
It is never easy for any cricket team to lose a player to injury right before the start of a tournament. When the tournament is as high-staking as the Indian Premier League, the ramifications have it in them to hit the team harder. The same has been the case with IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings who will miss the services of South Africa fast bowler Lungi Ngidi.
Advertisement
Ngidi had recently succumbed to a muscle strain during the ODI series against Sri Lanka. With the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 coming up, he has been advised four weeks of rest before a rehab program.
“Lungi felt discomfort while bowling during the last ODI against Sri Lanka at Newlands and immediately stopped bowling. Further scans revealed a Grade II muscle strain which will need up to four weeks of rest followed by a rehab program leading up to the World Cup,” South Africa team manager Mohammed Moosajee was quoted as saying by India Today.
ALSO READ: 3 Players who can replace Lungi Ngidi in IPL 2019
Ngidi, who had made his IPL debut last year, had dismissed 11 batsmen in seven matches at an average of 14.18, an economy rate of 6 and a strike rate of 14.18. Given his numbers, CSK would have been counting on Ngidi to lead their attack in this season.
“Ngidi will be missed. We are in the process of identifying a replacement,” CSK’s CEO KS Viswanathan was quoted saying recently.
Other than the Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders have also been hit hard by injuries right before the tournament. The two-time IPL-winning Knight Riders have lost a triad of fast bowlers in Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Shivam Mavi and Andrich Nortje.
How Twitter reacted:
Ngidi is not an Indian and is out of the tournament whereas Thakur n chahar failed miserably in international but what about batsman? They don’t nurture any young batsman. It’s their history
— Deval Shah (@DevalShah555) March 20, 2019
Chris woakes or Morne morkel would be a better replacement for ngidi #csk @ChennaiIPL
— gkl (@gklraaj7) March 20, 2019
BIG BLOW FOR CSK: South Africa pacer, Lungi Ngidi will miss the upcoming Indian Premier League due to injury. Ngidi sustained a left side strain during the fifth ODI against Sri Lanka pic.twitter.com/NMn5wegTWS
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) March 20, 2019
Lungi Ngidi being ruled out from the IPL is a big blow to CSK. I’m thinking of experienced Dale Steyn as replacement but he too is injury prone and may also be recalled early for the WC prep. What other options available? #csk
— Satyakam (@satyakam92) March 20, 2019
For more IPL-related news, click here.
