DC vs PBKS: Lungi Ngidi suffers nasty head injury, rushed to hospital on ambulance

IPL, DC vs PBKS: Lungi Ngidi suffered a nasty injury while fielding. He was stretchered off the field in an ambulance and later rushed to the hospital. The match between Punjab and Delhi was halted for 15 minutes as stunned players watched on in concern.

In Short

• Lungi Ngidi suffered a nasty injury in Delhi Capitals' match against Punjab Kings
• Ngidi suffered a blow to the head while attempting to take a catch
• The fast bowler was rushed to the hospital and DC were granted a concussion sub

Delhi Capitals pacer Lungi Ngidi suffered a nasty blow to his head while playing against Punjab Kings on Saturday, April 25. Ngidi was not able to get up after taking the fall and was rushed to the Karol Bagh hospital in New Delhi.

The frightening incident unfolded early in Punjab’s chase of 265 runs at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi and brought the contest to a standstill. What had begun as a routine catching chance soon turned into a distressing scene, with players from both sides immediately signalling for medical assistance as Ngidi remained down on the turf.

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Attempting the catch of Punjab opener Priyansh Arya in the 3rd over of the match, the South African pacer appeared to land flush on the back of his head after losing balance. Delhi Capitals players rushed in immediately, while Punjab batters Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh stood nearby watching on in visible concern as the medical team sprinted onto the field.

As the minutes passed, the atmosphere inside the stadium grew increasingly tense. Play was halted for around 15 minutes as doctors treated Ngidi in the middle. Sections of the Arun Jaitley crowd could be seen pausing to pray for the fast bowler’s recovery, while the oppressive Delhi heat only added to the discomfort of an already worrying situation.

The seriousness of the incident became even more apparent when a stretcher was brought out, followed shortly by an ambulance entering the field. With a neck brace placed on him and every precaution being taken, Ngidi was eventually lifted on to the stretcher, put in the ambulance and rushed to the hospital for further assessment, ending a deeply concerning passage of play in Delhi.

It was not too long ago that KL Rahul had struggled to even get through his mid-innings interview after batting through the brutal afternoon to score a historic 150. By the time Delhi returned to the field, Rahul had already needed physio attention while keeping, and Ngidi’s heavy fall only reinforced how punishing the conditions had been on Delhi’s players through the evening.

LUNGI NGIDI: HOW DID HE GET INJURED?

Ngidi was stationed at mid-off in the 3rd over, while Axar Patel bowled to Priyansh Arya. When the Punjab batter miscued one high into the air, the ball went flying over Ngidi. The South African never looked settled underneath it and struggled to judge the trajectory. As he tried to adjust and move back for the catch, Ngidi lost balance and fell awkwardly, crashing onto the turf and landing heavily on the back of his head.

The impact immediately sparked concern, with Ngidi staying down as Delhi Capitals players quickly gathered around him. Team physios and medical staff rushed onto the field, and the seriousness of the incident became clear when a stretcher and ambulance were called in. A neck brace was placed on Ngidi as doctors attended to him on the ground, while live visuals showed him speaking to the medical staff before he was stretchered off and taken away for further assessment.

Play was halted for around 15 minutes as medical staff treated Ngidi in the middle, with the Arun Jaitley Stadium falling into an uneasy silence during the stoppage. Sections of the crowd could be seen pausing to pray for the fast bowler’s recovery, while players from both sides watched on with concern. The oppressive Delhi heat may also have played a part in worsening the fall and Ngidi’s reaction to it, with temperatures remaining brutal well into the evening.

LUNGI NGIDI: WHO REPLACED HIM?

Delhi Capitals were allowed a concussion substitute after Ngidi was taken off, with Indian all-rounder Vipraj Nigam coming in as his replacement. Nigam, who has featured as a utility option for Delhi this season, was brought in as the Capitals’ approved concussion substitute after Ngidi was taken off for further medical assessment.

ARE DC PERMITTED TO REPLACE LUNGI NGIDI?

As per IPL playing conditions, if a player suffers a concussion or suspected concussion due to a head or neck injury sustained during the match, a Concussion Replacement may be permitted.

For a concussion substitute to be approved:

• The head or neck injury must have been sustained during play and within the playing area
• A concussion or suspected concussion must be formally diagnosed by the team medical doctor
• The team manager must submit a Concussion Replacement Request to the IPL Match Referee
• The request must identify the injured player and specify the incident in which the injury occurred
• It must confirm that the team doctor suspects or has diagnosed a concussion
• The replacement player must be a like-for-like substitute for the injured player

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