Ngidi chants… it was a special feeling
AS HE ripped through the Sri Lankan batting order, Lungi Ngidi’s name began echoing through the Wanderers cricket stadium.
The Durban-born bowler had just taken four wickets to put the Sri Lankans under immense pressure as they looked to chase down the target of 114 set by the Proteas.
Ngidi was stunned by the support – his name had never been chanted in a stadium before.
“I think this is something that will take a while to get used to. It was a special feeling,” Ngidi said this week.
The 20-year-old’s impressive figures of 4 for 19 weren’t enough to save the game, but the nation witnessed the birth of another superstar.
Ngidi has been bombarded by cricket fans wanting pictures and autographs.
“The response over the last week has been amazing,” he said.
Ngidi played in all three T20 games, bagging six wickets. His impressive haul prompted Cricket South Africa to include him in the one-day international series against Sri Lanka, but he has been ruled out by injury.
“Making my debut for the Proteas was a dream come true. There was a mixture of nerves and excitement. It’s not every day that you walk out to represent your country,” he said.
Ngidi’s performances have been hailed by his teammates, with T20 captain Farhaan Behardien labelling him a superstar.
ODI captain AB de Villiers was full of praise: “He’s a youngster with a good head on his shoulders. Very humble. He is prepared to work hard and knows where he comes from,” De Villiers said this week.
World cricket analysts have also singled Ngidi out as a future superstar.
“I know what I have to focus on, so that keeps me in check. It’s nice to hear the words of encouragement and that motivates me,” said Ngidi. “I have a good support system around me, so that helps me a lot to handle any extra pressure.”
He was inspired by new Proteas’ teammate Kagiso Rabada, and his success in the national squad had pushed him to earn a spot in the national team, he said.