Royal Challengers Bengaluru have suffered yet another blow, just a day after they have entered the IPL 2025 playoffs. South African pacer Lungi Ngidi is all set to desert the team as he will head back home to join national duties. RCB are currently second on the points table with two more games left in the league stage.
RCB name Blessing Muzarabani as Ngidi’s replacement
A press release from IPL stated that RCB have named Blessing Muzarabani as Ngidi’s replacement for the remainder of IPL 2025. The South African pacer played only one game for RCB in this season and picked up three wickets in that match.
“Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have picked Blessing Muzarabani as replacement for Lungisani Ngidi, who will leave to join South Africa for national duties. The replacement will be effective from May 26, 2025,” the press release stated.
Muzarabani has so far played 70 T20Is and has picked 78 wickets from the same. He has also represented Zimbabwe in 12 Tests and 55 ODIs. He will join RCB for Rs 75 Lakh.
RCB’s first game after IPL 2025 restart against KKR at the M Chinnaswamy stadium was washed out on May 17. Patidar and co. will next take on SRH on May 23 followed by a clash against LSG on May 27. Blessing will only be available for selection just before RCB’s last league stage match.
Meanwhile, RCB also await the arrival of Josh Hazlewood, who missed the previous game due to a shoulder niggle.
RCB squad for IPL 2025
Jacob Bethell, Virat Kohli, Mayank Agarawal, Rajat Patidar(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Blessing Muzarabani, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Dar Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Liam Livingstone, Swapnil Singh, Philip Salt, Mohit Rathee, Swastik Chikara, Abhinandan Singh, Nuwan Thushara, Josh Hazlewood
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