Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have named Blessing Muzarabani as a replacement for Lungisani Ngidi, who will leave to join South Africa for national duties. The replacement will be effective from May 26, a statement from the Indian Premier League said on Monday.
The statement added: “Muzarabani – a pacer for Zimbabwe – has so far played 70 T20Is and has picked 78 wickets from the same. Additionally, he has also represented Zimbabwe in 12 Tests and 55 ODIs. He will join for Rs 75 lakh.”
RCB will be in desperate need for pace options after losing Ngidi and Australian Josh Hazlewood, their highest wicket-taker this season, to a shoulder injury.
Talking about their latest acquisition, said on X: “6 feet 8 inches tall, 28-year-old Zimbabwean speedster – Blessing Muzarabani has been announced as RCB’s temporary replacement for Lungi Ngidi who returns to South Africa on the 26th! Lungi continues to be available for our next home game.”
Royal Challengers Bengaluru will take on on Friday, May 23 at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Muzarabani is currently part of Zimbabwe’s squad as they play a four-day Test against England at Bridge from May 22 to 25. The lanky pacer will then fly to India and will link up with RCB. It must be noted that Zimbabwe have a game lined up from June 3 (when the IPL 2025 final has now been scheduled to be played) against the South Africans. The game acts as a warm-up game for South Africa ahead of the WTC final.
RCB posted a clip of Muzarabani taking six wickets against Afghanistan during the Asian country’s tour of the African nation.
𝙃𝙚’𝙨 𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙡, 𝙝𝙚’𝙨 𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙗𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙨! 😮💨
This is just a glimpse of the chaos he’s about to unleash! 👊
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets)
“He’s tall, he’s trouble and he brings bounce that bites. This is just a glimpse of the chaos he’s about to unleash!” RCB wrote on X with the video.
RCB have already secured a spot in the IPL 2025 playoffs, having gathered 17 points from their 12 games. They have two more games left in the league stage. The franchise have never won the IPL title in 18 times of trying and are hoping to change that equation.
