Lungi Ngidi, the Delhi Capitals fast bowler, has finally broken his silence after a frightening neck injury during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 clash against Punjab Kings at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday. The South African pacer was stretchered off the field following a nasty fall that left the entire venue visibly shaken, with even the ambulance rolling into the playing area as concerns grew over the extent of the impact. The incident happened as Ngidi went in for a catch, misread the ball’s trajectory, and then came down hard on his neck.
Ngidi was taken to Max Hospital in Rajendra Nagar, Delhi, where he was discharged a few hours later. On Sunday, he shared an update with fans, expressing gratitude for the messages he received and confirming that he is doing well. “Thank you for the messages, all good,” Ngidi wrote on Instagram Stories.
The match itself had an equally worrying moment earlier, when Priyansh Arya mistimed a drive off Axar’s bowling. Arya, stationed at mid-off, quickly shuffled back but was unable to get even a touch on the ball. As he went down, he landed awkwardly on his head, and the situation looked extremely serious. The physio and doctor rushed onto the field immediately, and play was halted for at least 15 to 20 minutes while they assessed the batter’s condition.
After remaining still for about five minutes, Ngidi was seen responding to the doctor’s checks. Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting also came onto the ground to monitor the situation, while Ngidi’s South Africa team-mates—Tristan Stubbs and David Miller—watched on with clear concern.
Eventually, Ngidi was fitted with a neck brace and later moved out of the stadium by ambulance. Shortly after, the IPL’s official social media account posted a medical update stating that the 30-year-old complained of a headache and neck pain, while also confirming that he was stable and would be discharged soon.
In the hours leading up to his hospital transfer, the Delhi Police had arranged a “green corridor” to speed up the journey. Ngidi reached the hospital in just 11 minutes, underlining how urgent the response was at the time of the incident.
As for the contest between Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings, Punjab pulled off the highest successful chase in T20 cricket history. They chased down 265, finishing with six wickets in hand and still having seven balls left. KL Rahul’s breathtaking unbeaten 152 ultimately did not change the outcome, as Delhi Capitals paid the price for dropping Shreyas Iyer twice. In the end, Punjab Kings captain Iyer remained unbeaten on 71 off 36 balls, guiding the side to a winning finish and keeping their unbeaten run in the IPL 2026 season alive.
