The IPL 2026 season has been heavily impacted by injuries, with several key players either ruled out or sidelined at crucial stages of the tournament. Teams are constantly reshuffling combinations, and the latest setback came during a high-scoring clash at Arun Jaitley Stadium, where Lungi Ngidi suffered a serious blow to the head while attempting a catch.
The incident forced immediate medical attention, with Ngidi being stretchered off and rushed to a nearby hospital. Thankfully, the pacer later reassured fans that he was doing fine, posting a brief update confirming that “all was good.” However, despite the positive news, Ngidi is unlikely to feature in Delhi Capitals’ upcoming match, leaving a significant gap in their pace attack.
There had been initial hopes that Mitchell Starc could step in as a direct replacement. However, Delhi Capitals’ Director of Cricket Venugopal Rao clarified that Starc will only be available from May 1 onwards, ruling him out of the immediate fixture. This development is a major blow for Delhi Capitals, who have already struggled for consistency with the ball this season.
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Led by Axar Patel, DC’s bowling unit has relied heavily on Indian pacers like T Natarajan, Khaleel Ahmed, and Mukesh Kumar. Ngidi’s absence weakens their overseas bowling options further, making team balance a growing concern as the tournament intensifies.
🚨 JUST IN 🚨
Lungi Ngidi ruled out of at least the next two games for Delhi Capitals 🏏❌
Big blow for DC’s bowling attack! 😬
Can they cope without him? 👇#LungiNgidi #DelhiCapitals #IPL2026 #IPL #InjuryUpdate #BreakingNews #Cricket #T20Cricket #CricketFans #FastBowling #DC pic.twitter.com/KWiYywDjhk— TMN Sports (@TMNSportsLive) April 27, 2026
With Starc unavailable, the spotlight shifts to Dushmantha Chameera as the likely replacement. Chameera, who was part of DC in IPL 2025, brings experience but also inconsistency. In his previous stint, he picked up four wickets in five matches but conceded runs at a high economy rate. However, his recent T20I form has been impressive, with 38 wickets in 22 matches since 2024, making him a viable option to lead the pace attack.
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Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bengaluru are also dealing with injury concerns. Explosive opener Phil Salt has been ruled out of the upcoming clash due to a net-session injury. He was replaced by Jacob Bethell in the previous game, and RCB mentor Dinesh Karthik has confirmed that Salt will miss the match against DC as well.
As injuries continue to shape IPL 2026, teams are being tested not just on skill, but on squad depth and adaptability—factors that could ultimately define their playoff hopes.
