A tall, imposing paceman, Lungi Ngidi can reach speeds in the 140s kph and is as comfortable opening the bowling as he is at the death, making him one of South Africa's most promising prospects. Ngidi was schooled at Kwa-Zulu Natal's Hilton College and was involved at every provincial age-group level from Under-13 upwards.

He played for Kwa-Zulu Natal Under-19s at the Khaya Majola week in 2014, where he was spotted by Northerns. They facilitated his move up country, where he honed his skills at the University of Pretoria. Ngidi was identified as a T20 prospect early on when he finished as the joint second-highest wicket-taker in the Africa Cup, a provincial T20 tournament that serves as a curtain raiser to the season, in September 2015. His six wickets came at an average of 12.50 and helped Northerns win the title. He was named Africa T20 Cup player of the year and was also promoted to the franchise team, Titans, for parts of their T20 campaign. Ngidi played in the final for Titans in 2015-16, which they won, and was a central figure in their title defence the following season.

In January 2017, Ngidi was picked for South Africa's T20 squad to face Sri Lanka and was named Man of the Match on debut. Having largely been touted as a limited-overs prospect till then, a surprise was in store a year later: a maiden Test cap arrived against India in Centurion, and, yet again, what a debut it was. Ngidi's second-innings six-for helped South Africa knock India over for 151 and wrap up the series. Once again, he was named Man of the Match on debut.

Firdose Moonda