Lungi Ngidi recently shared that MS Dhoni's calm leadership was instrumental in his early IPL success with Chennai Super Kings (CSK). In a recent interview on April 16, 2026, Ngidi reflected on how playing under "Captain Cool" as a 21-year-old helped him master high-pressure situations, such as opening the bowling in an IPL final. Ngidi noted that having a captain who remained steady and unemotional helped him keep his own composure during intense games.

He credited Dhoni for showing immense trust in him at a young age, specifically recalling how he was entrusted with the new ball in the 2018 IPL Final.He described his time at CSK as a period of massive growth, learning game plans and field settings while playing alongside legends like Suresh Raina, Dwayne Bravo, and Harbhajan Singh.Ngidi recently revealed that he spent nearly a year perfecting a dipping slower ball, a skill he first began developing under the guidance of former CSK teammate Dwayne Bravo in 2018.

"I was very young so having a captain who wasn't emotional, did help a lot in terms of keeping calm, he backed me, He played me - In my first season i was opening the bowling in the final. it was a lot of fun - having Raina, Bravo, Bhajji, learnt a lot. I was 21 at that time, playing with legends of the game, a very exciting time for me", the player told PTI.

Lungi Ngidi on playing with Delhi Capitals

Lungi Ngidi has expressed a strong sense of purpose since joining Delhi Capitals (DC) for the IPL 2026 season. In recent media interactions on April 16, 2026, he described his role at DC as doing the "dirty job" — taking on the responsibility of bowling high-pressure overs in the Powerplay and at the death. Ngidi mentioned that he does not come to the IPL thinking he knows everything; he values the local knowledge of Indian players regarding ground conditions.

He highlighted his growing bond with KL Rahul, stating that he trusts the captain's insights from behind the stumps and adapts his bowling plans accordingly.He has been vocal in praising his DC teammates, recently hailing Afghan all-rounder Auqib Nabi as a "complete cricketer" and noting the positive team culture within the camp.