There was a welcome piece of news for Delhi Capitals late on Saturday night after Lungi Ngidi suffered a frightening injury during the match against Punjab Kings at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The Proteas fast bowler has been discharged from a Delhi hospital after being hurt in the contest, with the setback coming when he went for a catch and landed awkwardly on the back of his head and neck. Ngidi was taken to BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital for assessment and treatment, and after a period of care, he has now returned to the Delhi Capitals team hotel in New Delhi—an outcome that the franchise described as a positive sign of his recovery.
Delhi Capitals chairman and co-owner Kiran Kumar Grandhi visited the hospital to meet Ngidi, underscoring how closely the team was monitoring his condition. In the hours after the injury, medical attention and ongoing observation were expected to continue as part of the franchise’s usual process, but the discharge itself has eased immediate concerns. Sources also indicated that Ngidi’s return to the team’s hotel environment following his release from hospital suggested that his progress is in the right direction.
The injury, however, came amid a dramatic run chase at the same venue. Even though KL Rahul produced a monumental 152 not out, Punjab Kings chased down an all-time record target of 265 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, driven by a remarkable 126-run opening partnership between Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya. Skipper Shreyas Iyer then accelerated the chase with an unbeaten 71, helping PBKS complete the pursuit despite Delhi Capitals having to cope without Ngidi after he was stretchered off and hospitalised following his fall.
Ngidi’s trouble began in the third over of Punjab Kings’ innings when Axar Patel was bowling. Trying to take a catch off a lofted Priyansh Arya shot, Ngidi moved into position and tracked the ball while back-pedalling. He stretched backwards but could not get a fingertip on it, and in the process he landed heavily on his head. The incident immediately halted play for more than ten minutes as the situation was assessed, with spin all-rounder Vipraj Nigam brought in as a concussion substitute.
After the match had been paused and then restarted, the IPL released an update indicating that Ngidi was stable and would be discharged from the hospital that day. That is exactly what happened, with the bowler being released within a few hours of sustaining the blow. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Venugopal said the injury did not appear severe, adding that while updates would follow, nothing looked seriously concerning at the time.
For Delhi Capitals, Ngidi’s availability matters because he has been a significant contributor throughout the season. In his seven appearances so far, he has taken seven wickets at an average of 29.42, striking with an economy rate of 8.70. His best bowling figures for the campaign stand at 3/27, highlighting the impact he has had when fully fit.
