Lungi Ngidi's slower balls could be effective against India, says Proteas legend Shaun Pollock

“A Ferrari is more than a machine, it's a statement. It's no longer about just getting from A to B…”

This is a recent social media post from Lungi Ngidi as he stands next to his cherry red Italian sports car. 

It speaks volumes of the confidence the Proteas seam bowler is currently strutting. The 29-year-old is arguably in the form of his life with 23 T20I wickets at an average of 19.6 and economy of 7.55 over the past 12 months.

Crucially, eight of those have come at this on-going T20 World Cup, where Ngidi is the Proteas’ leading wicket-taker heading into the Super Eights phase. He has also claimed two Player of the Match awards already.

It’s a far cry away from the last T20 World Cup in the US and Caribbean two years ago when Ngidi did not even cut the 15-man squad and was only utilised as a travelling reserve. 

Former Proteas bowling great Shaun Pollock, who worked with Ngidi at the Pretoria Capitals during the Betway SA20 last month, has certainly noticed a mental change in the 29-year-old seamer. 

“Maturity kind of gives you a better understanding about what's required from a consistency perspective. So, I think he's grown from that point of view,” Pollock said in a SuperSport Round Table discussion.

A feature of Ngidi’s period in the sun has been his willingness to go to his slower ball and cutters early on. He has been open about “willing to take those risks” in finding a way to take wickets, especially in the Powerplay. 

But he’s also been able to revert to “pace on” when required, having rediscovered his ability to seam the ball away from the batters.

“I think he's added the ability to shape the ball up front. You know, it was something he could kind of do, but he's now got the control and the confidence to try and do it. 

“So that shape is vitally important, and I also think these conditions are conducive to his performance at the back end of the innings.” 

It is for this reason that Pollock feels Ngidi could be tasked with the responsibility of bowling during the middle overs in the Super Eights showdown against India in Ahmedabad on Sunday. 

Ngidi’s track record against the powerhouse Indian batting line-up certainly bodes well for the Proteas. 

The seamer has played nine matches against the defending champions and claimed 16 wickets at an average of 16.5 and economy rate of 8.89. 

“I wouldn't be surprised if South Africa maybe only used him for one over in the Powerplay, considering how effective his slow balls are and the fact that it will be slow balls that are turning away from the left handers against India,” Pollock said. 

“So, for me, I think they might do the one over where they maybe get him to try and swing the ball and see.

“If he can get a wicket then I would probably see him bowling quite a few overs in the middle rather than the death because of the nature of their batting line up.”