Lungi Ngidi will not be available for the Chennai Super King’s first match of IPL 2021 as per CEO Kasi Vishwanathan. The South African fast bowler has to undergo mandatory 14-day quarantine before he could join the rest of the squad in Mumbai.
All the players who are part of South Africa’s ODI squad for the upcoming series against Pakistan will complete the three-match series before boarding the flight to India. The series is going to be played between April 2 and 7.
Kagiso Rabada, Quinton de Kock, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi and David Miller will not be available for their respective franchise’s opening matches. Vishwanathan told Insidesport that Ngidi will have to follow same guidelines as others when he arrives in India.
“Ngidi will join the team only after April 5. Ngidi will have to follow the same guidelines as others and will be put in quarantine once he arrives. Therefore, he will not be available for selection for the opening game.”
BCCI had given permission for players to have a reduced quarantine if they are moving from one bubble to another. If these IPL teams chip in to arrange private plane, then South African players will be available by second or at most third game.
The unavailability of South African cricketers will a huge blow for Delhi Capitals as Nortje and Rabada are their top performers. The pace duo will not be able to play in their opening match against three-times champions Chennai Super Kings at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on April 10.
Lungi Ngidi has 20 wickets in 11 matches in the two seasons he has played in the IPL. Ngidi would be hoping to help CSK to get back on track after their disappointing season last year where they failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in the franchise’s history.
South African bowlers enjoyed their time in the last season of IPL as Kagiso Rabada won the purple cap picking up 30 wickets in 17 matches. Anrich Nortje picked up 22 wickets in 16 matches. Meanwhile, de Kock had a prolific season with the bat for champions Mumbai Indians.