By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Proteas fast bowler Lungi Ngidi has been released by Delhi Capitals for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 as he continues his recovery from a lower back injury.
The 27-year-old sustained the injury during the playoffs of the Betway SA20 last month.
Ngidi is currently being monitored by the Cricket South Africa (CSA) medical team and undergoing rehab with his provincial team, the Momentum Multiply Titans.
South Africa will still be represented at the Delhi Capitals with Anrich Nortje — who only recently returned from a back injury of his own — expected to play a big role with the ball for the side.
Tristan Stubbs is in line to make his debut for the Capitals in the IPL after an impressive season in the SA20 for the Sunrisers Eastern Cape.
Ngidi suffered the lower-back injury at the backend of the SA20 and is currently being monitored by the Cricket South Africa (CSA) medical team and undergoing rehab with his provincial team, the Titans.
He is expected to return to play in the second half of the ongoing CSA T20 Challenge in April.
The IPL is an important barometer for form, with the T20I World Cup in USA and the Caribbean starting less than a week after the final on 29 May.