ICC World Cup 2019 | Looking forward to playing India, we owe them one, warns Lungi Ngidi

ICC World Cup 2019 | Looking forward to playing India, we owe them one, warns Lungi Ngidi

no photo

|

Getty

Lungi Ngidi rings warning bells with respect to South Africa’s encounter with India on June 5 at the Ageas Bowl and has stated that his side owes one to India. The pacer was referring to India’s comprehensive 5-1 series win over South Africa when the former had toured the nation in 2018.

The Indian team were defeated in a competitive Test series in South Africa in early 2018, but they followed it up with a thumping 5-1 win in the ODIs. The Proteas had won one rain-marred match but barring that, the margin of victory for India read six wickets, nine wickets, 124 runs, 73 runs and eight wickets in the other five ODIs. The then victors will start their World Cup campaign on June 5 against the same opposition at the Ageas Bowl in Hampshire. Young South African pacer Lungi Ngidi has vowed to give back to India at the quadrennial event starting on May 30.

"I'm looking forward to India. I believe we owe them one. When they came here, they had a good series against us. So in my mind, I believe we owe them one. It would be a very exciting game for me. I'm sure it will be for all the guys as well,” he said, reported PTI.

The South African team missed the services of its skipper Faf du Plessis and wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock after the first and the second game respectively. The Titans bowler feels that the two teams will be a match for each other as the Proteas will play with their full strength playing XI in the showpiece tournament.

"They're a great team, don't take that away from them. But when they had a good series here, we were missing a few players. With those guys back, we'll see how it evens out a bit," reckoned the 23-year-old.

The Durban born bowler made both his Test and ODI debut in the series against India and has picked 34 wickets in 18 ODIs at an average of 21.64 since then. The third-ranked team has never won the World Cup trophy but Ngidi hoped that they rewrite history this time.

"Since I started this journey in international cricket, it's something that was always brought to my attention: that there's a World cup coming, and am I looking to be within that squad? And now I'm here, and there's no turning back. Nothing but excitement going there, and it would be a dream come true to win that World Cup and bring it back to South African soil,” he expressed.

The quadrennial event will begin with the encounter between South Africa and England at The Oval on May 30. The hosts are billed as the favourites to lift the trophy and Ngidi believes that it will work in his side’s favour.

"We are well-aware that they are probably under a lot more pressure than we are. They are hosts, they're considered to be favourites and that's an advantage for us. We obviously want to win, and if we do, it would send a massive statement,” he signed off.

Cricket FootBall Kabaddi

Basketball Hockey

SportsCafe

Get updates! Follow us on

Open all