MS Dhoni supported me to win games for CSK when I was 22, that was huge: Lungi Ngidi
India Today
South African right-arm seamer Lungi Ngidi attributed his IPL success in 2018 to MS Dhoni and the skipper's confidence in him.
South African pacer Lungi Ngidi said that Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni trusted him to win games in IPL 2018 at a young age, which was massive for him.
Ngidi was picked up by the CSK in 2018. The right-arm pacer grabbed 11 wickets in seven matches at an average of 14.18 that season, helping the Dhoni-led side to win the title. He was also part of the title-winning side in 2021.
"Having someone of Dhoni's caliber put his trust in me to win him games when I was 22 was massive for me," Ngidi told 'The Guardian'.
The 26-year-old credited the IPL for teaching him how to deal with massive crowds.
"The IPL also taught me how to handle a big crowd. I'd never played in front of 60,000 people and that was a bit overwhelming at the start. But once you get going it's a breeze," he added.
After the high of 2020, which saw him win South Africa's T20 and ODI player of the year awards, Nigidi has had to deal with selection issues and lost his place in South Africa's attack this year.
At the IPL auctions this year, Ngidi was picked up by the Delhi Capitals and although he did not play for his new side, the pacer feels being around and bowling to the prodigious Rishabh Pant has helped him grow as a player.
