Delhi Capitals speedster Lungi Ngidi underwent a serious neck scare during the IPL 2026 clash against Punjab Kings at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi last week. The South African looked to be in significant distress after landing awkwardly while attempting a catch, prompting immediate concern from players and staff as the team physio rushed in. With Ngidi remaining motionless for a spell, an ambulance was brought onto the field, and despite heavy rush-hour conditions outside the venue, traffic officials helped carve out a swift passage that got him to hospital in a little over 10 minutes.
Key takeaways
- Lungi Ngidi suffered a neck injury while trying to take a catch during the Delhi Capitals vs Punjab Kings match at Arun Jaitley Stadium.
- An ambulance was entered onto the field to transport him after he stayed still for some time while medical staff attended.
- Traffic ACP Sanjay Singh ordered a green corridor, keeping signals favourable along the route to the hospital.
- The ambulance covered the roughly 8-kilometre stretch in 11 minutes, reaching BLK Max Hospital in Rajender Nagar.
- Ngidi has since recovered and was discharged from the hospital.
The moment the injury was reported
Traffic ACP Sanjay Singh, who was on duty within his jurisdiction around the Arun Jaitley Stadium area, explained that he first came to know about the incident while monitoring the match from outside the venue. He said that once he was alerted that an injured player required an ambulance and that the vehicle had entered the playing area, his assumption was straightforward: the cricketer had to be shifted to hospital immediately, and therefore the traffic route would need to be cleared without delay.
Singh described his role around IPL match days, noting that while overall match control sits with higher police command, he manages specific aspects within his area. In this case, he said someone was watching the game on a mobile phone, after which he received the information that an injury had occurred inside the stadium and that an ambulance had moved onto the field.
How the green corridor was created
After learning the ambulance had entered the ground, Singh moved quickly to coordinate with the traffic setup. He said he found the ambulance close to Gate No. 2, where Delhi Capitals officials were also present. Ngidi was inside the vehicle with an oxygen mask on, and Singh pointed out that the lack of movement from the player triggered visible panic among those around the scene.
Singh then recalled questioning the driver about the destination. He said the driver indicated that the plan was to take Ngidi to BLK Max Hospital in Rajender Nagar. Singh added that the driver intended to rely on Google Maps to navigate to the hospital, and with it being peak hour, he recognised that delays could easily arise from signal timing and congestion unless the route was controlled.
To prevent any loss of time, Singh contacted the control room with the full plan for the drive from the stadium to the hospital. He also directed attention to key junctions—specifically mentioning Mandi House—so that appropriate traffic police deployment would be in place along the way. In this manner, the decision was taken to create a green corridor.
Singh explained that a green corridor means traffic signals remain green for the ambulance along the entire stretch it travels. He credited proper coordination to ensure the route stayed clear, adding that the total distance of about 8 kilometres was covered in 11 minutes. He also noted that one Delhi Capitals official was travelling in his vehicle and that he stayed actively monitoring the situation while traffic was being cleared.
Why Singh reacted so quickly
Singh, a former cricketer, said his background helped him understand the urgency of the situation almost instinctively. He described having played alongside Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh and Virat Kohli, stating that this familiarity with the cricket environment made it easier for him to process what the on-field developments meant and what should happen next.
He further elaborated on his cricketing connections through Delhi’s league structures and a cricket team environment linked to the police setup. Singh referenced playing in the DDCA League Cricket format in years prior, including group-based matches featuring teams such as ONGC and Indian Airlines, where players including Yuvraj Singh, Gautam Gambhir, Mohammad Kaif and Virender Sehwag would take part. He also said Virat Kohli was a youngster at the time and participated as well, adding that he had played cricket with all of them over the years.
Ngidi’s recovery update
After the incident and hospital treatment, Lungi Ngidi has recovered well from the neck injury and was discharged from the hospital.
