World Cup 2019: India contest will be a revenge game for South Africa's Lungi Ngidi

For South African paceman Lungi Ngidi, his debut in ODIs was not too festive. It was in that six-game series against India at home in early 2018 that the Proteas were decimated 1-5. The 23-year-old pacer himself had a good time in the series with eight wickets from four matches but the team’s devastation still haunts him. It was the first-ever time that India had beaten the Proteas in a series in any form.

The two team’s next meeting will be taking place on the big stage – the ICC World Cup – on June 5 in Southampton. It will be India’s maiden game in the tournament though for the Proteas, it will be the third encounter. And Ngidi is looking forward to that game more as an occasion to avenge the humiliation at home.

India game would be exciting for Ngidi

“I’m looking forward to India. 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,” the young fast bowler was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

“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,” he said, recalling the fact that South Africa had missed a few players because of injury in that series.

India have played South Africa four times at the World Cup starting in 1992 when the Proteas made their debut and have only once which was in the 2015 WC.

Speaking about the tournament opener at the Kennington Oval when the Proteas face England, Ngidi said beating the hosts will be a “massive statement” and felt that pressure will be on the other side which will allow the Proteas some space.

Also read- Clive Lloyd picks England as the favourites to win the World Cup

“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,” Ngidi said referring to England.

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