Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have signed Zimbabwean bowler Blessing Muzarabani as a replacement for Lungi Ngidi, who’s heading to the World Test Championship final with South Africa. Muzarabani joins the team for Rs 75 lakh. Ngidi is set to play against Sunrisers Hyderabad at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium before he joins the national team.
Muzarabani is currently in the Zimbabwe Test squad for a four-day match against England starting on May 22. He’ll join RCB right before their final league match against Lucknow Super Giants on May 27. His ability to bowl with pace and bounce might give him an edge over Nuwan Thushara when it comes to troubling batters.
He was part of Lucknow Super Giants before as a net bowler, and in his 70 T20I matches, he has taken 78 wickets with an average of 21.75. His overall economy rate is just above seven runs per over. Muzarabani has 127 wickets in 114 T20 appearances and has played 12 Tests and 55 ODIs. Against India, he has taken seven wickets in six T20 matches at an average of 23.71.
Standing at six foot eight, he has solid franchise experience, including 22 wickets in the ILT20 with Gulf Giants and a stint with St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the Caribbean Premier League. He was also part of the Multan Sultans’ winning team in the Pakistan Super League and started out in England’s Vitality Blast.
After the double-header Sunday, RCB secured a spot in the playoffs and currently sits second in the points table with 17 points, thanks to eight wins and one abandoned game out of 12 matches.
