South Africa’s fast bowler Lungi Ngidi has been ruled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to injury.

Ngidi sustained a lower back injury during the playoffs of the SA20 last month while playing for Paarl Royals. As he continues to recover, the pacer will not appear for Delhi Capitals in the upcoming season of the IPL. He also pulled out from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) due to the same reason.

Delhi Capitals have announced Australian all-rounder Jake Fraser-McGurk as the replacement. Jake was part of Australia”s squad during the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup in South Africa in 2020.

It was confirmed that Ngidi is expected to return to action in April in a domestic competition in a statement released by Cricket South Africa (CSA). This will put him in contention for playing for Proteas in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA.

“Ngidi is currently being monitored by the Cricket South Africa (CSA) medical team and undergoing rehab with his provincial team, the Momentum Multiply Titans. He is expected to return to play in the second half of the ongoing CSA T20 Challenge in April,” the statement read.

Ngidi was previously ruled out from the T20I series against India in December last year after he suffered a left lateral ankle sprain and made a comeback in the final Test of the series.