South Africa have produced no shortage of fast-bowling talent over the years, and Lungi Ngidi’s route into the side stands out even by that standard. Born in Durban, he was educated at Hilton College, where he initially played rugby before cricket became his focus, and later studied Industrial Sociology at the University of Pretoria. He first made his mark in South African domestic cricket before breaking into the national side in 2017.
Ngidi made his Test debut against India at Centurion in January 2018 and announced himself immediately, taking 6 for 39 in the second innings to help South Africa win the match and earning Player of the Match honours. He was also named South Africa’s T20 International Player of the Year in 2018. His rise continued in limited-overs cricket, with the 2019 World Cup providing his first major global tournament, while he remained part of South Africa’s squads for subsequent ICC events.
Franchise cricket has also been an important part of Ngidi’s career, with stints in the IPL and SA20 exposing him to different conditions, batters and tactical demands. Those experiences have helped him develop his variations, most notably his slower 'doorknob' delivery, which has become a useful weapon, particularly in the shorter formats.
The pinnacle of Ngidi’s international career came in 2025, when South Africa finally ended a long wait for an ICC title by defeating Australia in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s. Ngidi played his part in the historic campaign, contributing with the ball as South Africa secured their first senior men’s ICC trophy since 1998.