Cricket

Lungi Ngidi, the South African fast bowler, has established himself as a formidable force in international cricket since his Test debut in 2018. With 204 wickets across formats, he remains a key cog in the Proteas' bowling attack.Growing up, Ngidi idolized Makhaya Ntini, who coached him at a camp. He also admired Shaun Pollock, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, and Vernon Philander, and has had the privilege of playing alongside some of these legends.Ngidi's partnership with Kagiso Rabada has been a cornerstone of South Africa's bowling success. He describes Rabada as one of his best friends, and they have developed a strong on-field chemistry.Among Indian pacers, Ngidi has been impressed by Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, and Umesh Yadav. He acknowledges the skill and consistency of these bowlers.Ngidi has faced some of the world's best batters, including Kane Williamson, Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Babar Azam, and David Warner. He considers these players to be the biggest challenges he has encountered.Reflecting on his Test debut against India, Ngidi recalls it as a cherished moment. He dismissed Kohli and K.L. Rahul, earning him the Player-of-the-Match award.Ngidi's journey with Chennai Super Kings in the IPL has been a memorable one. He won the title in his first season and enjoyed playing alongside legends like M.S. Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, and Suresh Raina.Beyond cricket, Ngidi enjoys spending time with loved ones and exploring new interests. He plays the piano and is a fan of Kid Cudi.Despite being one of South Africa's strongest sides, they have not played many Tests in recent years. Ngidi expresses his desire to play more Test cricket, as he believes it is the toughest and most rewarding format.

Aiden Markram, the captain of the South African cricket team, holds a unique distinction: he is the only South African captain to have led a team to victory in a World Cup. Markram's triumph came in the 2014 Under-19 World Cup, the only global cricket trophy won by South Africa.While Markram acknowledges the significant difference between a junior tournament and the men's Twenty20 World Cup, he draws upon his experience as a source of confidence. "There aren't so many eyes watching you in an age-group tournament," Markram said. "Now there is a lot more planning and preparation."Markram's leadership in 2014 was exemplary, as he scored 370 runs at an average of 123.33 and was named player of the tournament. He was also supported by the precocious fast bowling talent of Kagiso Rabada, who was the side's leading wicket-taker.However, South Africa's T20 results under Markram and coach Rob Walter have been less than impressive. The team has managed only two wins in eight matches, all played at home. Markram believes the results don't tell the full story, as South Africa has seldom fielded a full-strength team.Despite their low ranking, Markram is confident in his team's abilities. South Africa boasts a potentially powerful batting line-up, with players of the quality of Quinton de Kock, Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, and Tristan Stubbs.Coach Walter has selected bowlers who he believes can strike in the crucial early overs of a T20 contest. Anrich Nortje, the team's fastest bowler, is a key player but has struggled in recent matches.Markram, Klaasen, and Marco Jansen arrived at the team's training base in Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday night after being involved in the IPL final in Chennai on Sunday. Markram believes the travel is a reality for many players these days and is focused on getting ready for Monday's match against Sri Lanka.

Kagiso Rabada, South Africa's premier fast bowler, has returned home from the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to an infection in the soft tissue of his lower limb. Despite the setback, Rabada is expected to be fit for the upcoming T20 World Cup, which begins on October 16 in Australia.Rabada played 11 matches for the Punjab Kings in the IPL, taking 11 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 8.85. However, he will miss the team's final two matches as he undergoes treatment for the infection.The South African Cricket Board (CSA) released a statement confirming Rabada's condition and stating that he is being "closely monitored by the medical team" ahead of the World Cup.Rabada's inclusion in the South African squad is crucial, as he is the only black African player named in the 15-man provisional squad. This has sparked controversy, as CSA has targets for the national team to field an average of six players of color in every XI, with at least two being black African.South Africa will fall short of this target at the T20 World Cup, with only six players of color in the squad and only one black African (Rabada). Therefore, Rabada will need to play every game to ensure that the team does not fall too far behind the overall target.Lungi Ngidi is the only other black African player who was in contention for the squad and has been included as a traveling reserve. South Africa's other fast bowlers include Anrich Nortje, who has returned after a nine-month break due to a stress fracture, Gerald Coetzee, Ottniel Baartman, and Marco Jansen.

Virat Kohli's Witty Banter with Kagiso Rabada Lights Up IPL 2024As the Punjab Kings prepared to face the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Dharamsala, Virat Kohli, the RCB star and current Orange Cap holder, showcased his witty side. In a viral video, Kohli engaged in a friendly banter with PBKS pacer Kagiso Rabada while the latter was recording a podcast.Rabada was participating in the 'Willow Talk Podcast' when he noticed Kohli dancing in front of him. Moments later, Kohli gatecrashed the podcast, entertaining viewers with his hilarious one-liners. Rabada jokingly accused Kohli of considering him a "weak bowler," setting the stage for an intriguing battle between the two players in the upcoming match.Kohli has been in exceptional form this IPL season, amassing 634 runs in 12 matches, including five half-centuries and one century. His strike rate of 148.09 has been a testament to his aggressive batting style. Rabada, on the other hand, has also had a solid season, claiming 11 wickets in as many matches.Despite RCB's slim chances of making the playoffs, they can still qualify if they win their remaining two fixtures. PBKS, however, have been eliminated from contention after their defeat against RCB.Kohli's witty banter with Rabada has added a touch of humor to the intense IPL competition. The upcoming match between PBKS and RCB promises to be an exciting affair, with the battle between Kohli and Rabada taking center stage.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are set to face off in a highly anticipated clash in the 58th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala on Thursday.PBKS, currently eighth in the standings with four wins from 11 matches, will be looking to improve their position in the tournament. RCB, on the other hand, are seventh with eight points from 11 matches and will be eager to secure a victory to boost their playoff hopes.PBKS Predicted XI:* Prabhsimran Singh* Jonny Bairstow* Rilee Rossouw* Shashank Singh* Sam Curran (captain)* Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper)* Ashutosh Sharma* Harpreet Brar* Rahul Chahar* Harshal Patel* Kagiso RabadaRCB Predicted XI:* Virat Kohli* Faf du Plessis (captain)* Will Jacks* Rajat Patidar* Glenn Maxwell* Cameron Green* Dinesh Karthik (wicketkeeper)* Swapnil Singh* Karn Sharma* Mohammed Siraj* Yash DayalKey Players to Watch:* Virat Kohli (RCB): The leading run-scorer in IPL 2024 with 542 runs, Kohli will be crucial to RCB's batting success.* Kagiso Rabada (PBKS): The South African pacer is the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 17 scalps and will be a key threat to RCB's batters.* Shashank Singh (PBKS): The top-scorer for PBKS this season with 315 runs, Singh will be looking to continue his impressive form.* Yash Dayal (RCB): The left-arm pacer has been RCB's most successful bowler with 10 wickets and will be a key factor in containing PBKS's batting lineup.Match Preview:The match promises to be a thrilling encounter between two evenly matched teams. PBKS will be looking to capitalize on their home advantage and secure a much-needed victory. RCB, on the other hand, will be determined to bounce back from their recent defeat and strengthen their playoff chances.The battle between the two bowling attacks will be crucial, with both teams boasting a mix of experienced and talented bowlers. The batting lineups of both sides are also packed with match-winners, so fans can expect a high-scoring affair.

Virat Kohli's unexpected appearance on Punjab Kings' fast bowler Kagiso Rabada's podcast has become a viral sensation on social media. During a podcast with 'Willow Talk,' Rabada was caught off guard when he noticed Kohli behind his computer screen."Virat Kohli is right there; he's dancing," Rabada exclaimed to the interviewer. "I'm on a podcast," he informed Kohli. "With who?" Kohli inquired. "It's called Willow Talk," Rabada replied.The interviewer, hearing their conversation, requested Rabada to ask Kohli to join the podcast. "Hello boys," Kohli greeted, appearing on camera. "What's happening? Big boy KG here," the RCB icon said.The interviewer asked Kohli about Rabada's bowling abilities, but Kohli couldn't hear due to Rabada's headphones. "I can't hear anything, so I am just going to keep blabbering as I always do," Kohli joked."He thinks I am a weak bowler," Rabada answered the interviewer's question, as Kohli shook hands with him before leaving. "That's a pretty cool guest on your show," Rabada remarked, continuing with the podcast.Both RCB and Punjab have 8 points from 4 wins in 11 matches heading into their match on Thursday. Their playoff hopes are fading, as only the top four teams advance to the playoffs.

Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians: A Tale of Contrasting FortunesThe Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians, two teams with contrasting fortunes in IPL 2024, will face off in a crucial encounter at Mullanpur on Thursday.Batting DisparityPunjab Kings have struggled with their batting, with only one batter (Liam Livingstone) scoring over 150 runs. Mumbai Indians, on the other hand, boast three batters with over 150 runs, including Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan, who have formed a formidable opening partnership.Bowling ProwessIn contrast to their batting, Punjab Kings have excelled with their bowling. They possess the best bowling average and fourth-best economy rate in the tournament. Mumbai Indians, despite the brilliance of Jasprit Bumrah, have one of the weakest bowling attacks, with a high average and economy rate.Venue FactorMullanpur has been a challenging venue for batters, with the lowest powerplay run rate in IPL 2024. This could pose a significant challenge for Mumbai Indians' openers, who are accustomed to a quick start.Team NewsPunjab Kings may consider replacing Jonny Bairstow with Rilee Rossouw, while Mumbai Indians could bring in Nuwan Thushara for Mohammad Nabi.Players in FocusKagiso Rabada has been a standout performer for Punjab Kings, taking wickets at an impressive economy rate. Rohit Sharma has been in scintillating form for Mumbai Indians, enjoying his best start to an IPL season.Stats and Trivia* Rohit Sharma is set to become the second player after MS Dhoni to play 250 IPL matches.* Ishan Kishan has a high strike rate against Arshdeep Singh but has been dismissed three times by him in 12 balls.* Rabada has a strong record against Suryakumar Yadav, dismissing him three times in 52 balls.Pitch and ConditionsTeams winning the toss have preferred to chase at Mullanpur, with two wins out of three games this season. The pitch is expected to be batting-friendly, favoring both teams' strong batting lineups.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 witnessed another nail-biting encounter on Saturday, with Rajasthan Royals (RR) edging out Punjab Kings (PBKS) in a low-scoring thriller.PBKS, batting first, struggled to gain momentum, posting a modest 147/8 in 20 overs. Ashutosh Sharma (31), Jitesh Sharma (29), and Liam Livingstone (21) provided some resistance, but the RR bowlers kept them in check.In response, RR's chase was far from smooth. Yashasvi Jaiswal (39), Tanush Kotian (24), and Riyan Parag (23) all got starts but failed to convert them into substantial scores.With the match hanging in the balance, Shimron Hetmyer stepped up for RR. The West Indian smashed an unbeaten 27 off just 10 deliveries, including the winning boundary with one ball to spare.Kagiso Rabada was the standout bowler for PBKS, claiming 2/18. For RR, Keshav Maharaj and Avesh Khan picked up two wickets each.The victory consolidated RR's position at the top of the IPL 2024 points table with five wins in six games. PBKS, on the other hand, remained eighth with two wins in six matches.Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Virat Kohli continues to lead the Orange Cap race with 319 runs, while RR's Yuzvendra Chahal holds the Purple Cap with 11 wickets.