In lieu of Lungi Ngidi, who will depart the Indian Premier League (IPL) on May 26 in order to prepare for the World Test Championship (WTC) final between South Africa and Australia at Lord’s, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has hired Zimbabwean bowler Blessing Muzarabani.
Muzarabani, who has no IPL caps, has signed a contract worth INR 75 lakh. In the 2022 season, he played as a net bowler for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the IPL. For the four-day rubber match against England in Nottingham, which begins on May 22, he is a member of Zimbabwe’s Test team.
Ngidi will be ready for the May 23 home league match between RCB and Sunrisers Hyderabad. The next league game for RCB is scheduled for May 27 in Lucknow.
Josh Hazlewood, the favored foreign selection, is slated to join the RCB team prior to the playoffs while now recuperating from a shoulder ailment in Australia. The WTC final, which begins on June 11, will also feature Hazlewood.
Muzarabani, a tall hit-the-deck pacer who resembles Hazlewood and Ngidi, has played in 12 Test matches, 55 One-Day Internationals, and 70 Twenty20 Internationals for Zimbabwe. He was selected Player of the Match after taking nine wickets in the most recent Sylhet Test match against Bangladesh. He has also played for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Gulf Giants in the ILT20, and Multan Sultans and Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
