South African fast bowler Lungi Ngidi has recalled an incident when Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper MS Dhoni pulled off a masterstroke that changed the complexion of the game in the IPL 2018 final against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Dhoni is one of the most successful captains in the history of the tournament, winning the illustrious title four times and taking Chennai to the knockouts on 11 out of 12 IPL seasons they have competed in.
The Super Kings were undefeated against Hyderabad in that season before entering the summit clash. Playing his maiden IPL season, Lungi Ngidi also played his part in the title win and bowled a spell of 4-1-26-1 in the final. He dismissed all-rounder Deepak Hooda in the 17th over.
Opening on the final tie, the Proteas cricketer revealed that he hadn’t discussed field placement with MS Dhoni before the start of the over. And the CSK skipper moved a fielder without consulting the bowler. Dhoni’s move worked and Hooda was caught at the position where Dhoni placed the fielder.
Speaking on timesnow.com, Lungi Ngidi said:
“It was the final against the Sunrisers (Hyderabad) in 2018, we hadn’t discussed a certain field placement but he automatically just changed my field and with that field, within a couple of balls, we got a wicket to the fielder that he had moved.”
He added:
“So for me, that’s one thing that sticks out in my mind because in a final, to have such a moment like that and to execute the plan that he wanted, really gave me confidence in terms of how to bowl and it just showed me how in tune he is with the game in terms of how he sees it’s going to play out and it played out exactly the way I think he thought it was going to.”
Since then, Lungi Ngidi has been an integral part of the Chennai Super Kings squad and was also part of the IPL 2021 squad. So far, he has scalped 25 wickets in 14 matches for CSK.
He was released by the franchise ahead of the IPL 2022 auction and will enter the auction at a base price of INR 50 lakhs.
