Lungi Ngidi and Dushmantha Chameera - (Source: AP/ AFP)
Lungi Ngidi suffered a nasty head injury while fielding for the Delhi Capitals in match number 35 of the IPL 2026 season. The speedster suffered the injury against the Punjab Kings at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Saturday, April 25.
The incident occurred during the third over of the Punjab Kings run chase, when opening batter Priyansh Arya launched Capitals skipper Axar Patel high up in the air towards the mid-off region.
Incidentally, the Capitals franchise was not permitted to use Sri Lanka fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera as a concussion substitute for injured Ngidi. Here, we reveal why exactly the home team was prevented to use Chameera as they brought in uncapped Indian off-spinner Vipraj Nigam into the field instead.
Why Delhi Capitals were not allowed to bring Chameera as concussion substitute?
When Lungi Ngidi suffered his head injury against Punjab Kings, fellow overseas fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera was spotted getting ready to replace the South African cricketer in the field. However, the Capitals later brought in young Indian leg-spinner Vipraj Nigam into the field instead.
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Delhi Capitals' Director of Cricket Venugopal Rao later confirmed that the franchise could not bring in Chameera as Ngidi’s concussion substitute because the Sri Lankan fast bowler would have been their fifth overseas player of the match. As per IPL rules and regulations, a maximum of only four overseas players are allowed for a team in IPL games.
Even the clause 1.2.9 of the IPL 2026 playing conditions that deal with concussion substitutes state that a replacement may be allowed “if a player sustains a concussion or suspected concussion, as a result of a head or neck injury during the course of the relevant match.”
This might also be the reason why the Mumbai Indians franchise did not bring Will Jacks into the field earlier this week against the CSK, when New Zealand all-rounder Mitchell Santner suffered an injury. As a concussion substitute, the Hardik Pandya-led side brought in Indian cricketer Shardul Thakur instead.
Lungi Ngidi’s injury and recovery update
Lungi Ngidi suffered a nasty injury after misjudging a skier and hitting his head onto the ground as he tumbled backwards. His injury even prompted a stretcher and an ambulance to come into the field, shortly after the cricketer was surrounded by his teammates and Delhi Capitals support staff members.
After the match, an official social media update of the IPL confirmed that Ngidi was “stable” and was “due to be discharged shortly from the hospital.”
Delhi Capitals vs Punjab Kings: As it happened
Delhi Capitals batted first and mounted 264-2 in 20 overs, courtesy of a blistering 152* from 67 balls by charismatic opener KL Rahul. Even Nitish Rana at number three bludgeoned 91 off 44 balls with 11 boundaries and four huge sixes.
In response, Punjab Kings openers Prabhsimran Singh (76 off 26), Priyansh Arya (43 off 17) and captain Shreyas Iyer (71* off 36) blazed their team to a comprehensive six-wicket win in 18.5 overs. The outcome marked the highest successful run chase in the history of the tournament, as Punjab Kings continue to remain the only unbeaten side of the IPL 2026 season.
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