After Dale Steyn was ruled out due to an unfortunate injury, Lungi Ngidi, the 21-year-old fast bowler was called in for replacing Dale Steyn in the squad. Ngidi was being termed as South Africa’s surprise weapon that was to be unleashed on India.
Lungi Ngidi is regarded as one of the top emerging youngsters in South Africa and he is a 6 feet bowler who is known for some express pace. He came out to be an unpleasant surprise for India at Centurion. He found his maiden test wicket in Parthiv Patel but it could have been Virat Kohli.
Just after being called to the squad to replace Steyn, Ngidi got his first game and he has had a pretty decent debut so far. First, he sent back Cheteshwar Pujara with a magnificent direct hit. Pujara was dismissed first ball, courtesy fine athleticism by Ngidi who got down quickly to collect the ball and dislodged the stumps with a direct hit.
ALMOST GOT KOHLI AS HIS FIRST TEST WICKET
Ngidi was impressive with the ball and he was asking questions for the Indian batsmen especially when the ball had started to reverse swing. On one of the deliveries he hit Kohli on his pads and it looked quite straight. But the umpire’s decision was not out and South Africa went for the review.
South Africa was pretty hopeful of getting Kohli and what could have been a bigger maiden test wicket for Ngidi than the Indian Captain. The replay suggested that the ball was straighter than what everyone had anticipated and it looked like Kohli was gone.
But the snickometer showed a very faint movement. Virat Kohli had very faintly edged the ball and that edge saved him. Had the bat not come into play then Ngidi would have found his maiden test wicket in Virat Kohli and India would have collapsed.
KOHLI PUTS UP A GREAT SHOW
The Indian captain has been splendid so far in the first innings. Virat Kohli was unbeaten on 85 at stumps on Day 2. All Of India’s hopes are now resting on Virat Kohli for all other batsmen have made their way back to the hut.
