Indian T20 League side, Chennai have been dealt with a massive blow as bowler Lungi Ngidi has been ruled out of the tournament due to an injury.
Indranil Mukherjee / AFP
As part of South Africa's ODI team which faced Sri Lanka, the 22-year-old sustained a side strain during the fifth ODI at home. Though he was primarily ruled out for the first T20I against visitors, his extent of the injury has forced him to sit out for at least four weeks.
Speaking about the magnitude of the injury, South Africa's team manager Mohammed Soosajee said the pacer has sustained a Grade II muscle strain and has been advised a four-week rest ahead of the World Cup in England.
"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 programme leading up to the World Cup," Dr Mohammed Moosajee said.
Picked up by Chennai in 2017 during the player auction, Ngidi was instrumental during his side’s title-winning season last year. Picking 11 wickets in 7 games last season, the 22-year-old was expected to be the front-line overseas seamer for Chennai and his absence has now left a huge void in the team. They do have Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Mohit Sharma and KM Asif from their Indian contingent followed by David Willey and Dwayne Bravo from the foreign quota, but Ngidi remains an all-important member altogether.
Given his absence, all-rounder Shane Watson can be expected to be used as an extra bowler.
