'He was value maintaining' – Aakash Chopra questions RCB for releasing South African star forward of IPL 2026

Former India opener Aakash Chopra has questioned Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for releasing South Africa pacer Lungi Ngidi forward of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. This comes after the 30-year-old picked up three wickets for his new facet, Delhi Capitals (DC), throughout their win towards Lucknow Tremendous Giants (LSG) on Wednesday, April 1. 

Ngidi bowled a wonderful opening spell with the brand new ball, with the wicket of Nicholas Pooran being the icing on the cake. The appropriate-arm seamer bowled a superb slower yorker that fully bamboozled the West Indies batter to hit his stumps. 

Chopra heaped reward on the impression Ngidi had, alongside along with his fast-bowling associate T. Natarajan. The South African has come into the 2026 IPL season on the again of some nice kind, which incorporates taking 12 wickets within the T20 World Cup at an economic system of seven.19.

“T Natarajan, who was injured final season and did not play for a very long time, bowled properly this time. He picked up three wickets, and Lungi Ngidi has been completely superior. If we see the final 17 or 18 months, it looks like he is among the most improved bowlers, from each the execution and expertise standpoint,” Chopra stated on his YouTube channel. 

Ngidi shaped a part of RCB’s title-winning squad in 2025 however performed simply two video games. He was let go by the franchise forward of the mini public sale regardless of costing them simply INR 1 crore. 

RCB’s loss was DC’s acquire, who snapped him up for his base worth of INR 2 crore. 

“RCB is perhaps pondering that he was with them for INR 1 crore, and why they let him go. In fact, they did not learn about Josh Hazlewood’s harm at the moment, however he was value maintaining. They should be feeling the pinch a bit bit. RCB’s loss is Delhi’s acquire. Lungi Ngidi was sensible,” he added.

Regardless of at present lacking Josh Hazlewood and not having Ngidi of their ranks, RCB appear to have discovered an enough substitute in New Zealand’s Jacob Duffy. One other base worth buy at INR 2 crore, the 31-year-old took three wickets on his debut for the defending champions throughout their victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad on the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on the opening evening. 

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