'Really?': Faf as CSA congratulate Ngidi on winning IPL but leave him & Tahir out

Cricket Desk: Cricket South Africa (CSA) inexplicably omitted to mention Faf du Plessis and Imran Tahir in their congratulatory post after the conclusion of the Indian Premier League 2021, which the Chennai Super Kings won on October 15 to clinch their fourth title in the league’s history.

On October 16, CSA took to its official Instagram to congratulate pacer Lungi Ngidi for the 2021 triumph before deleting the post due to the obvious backlash. “Congratulations @lungingidi on claiming the 2021 IPL with Chennai Super Kings”, read the caption. 

Expressing his surprise, Faf du Plessis, the Player of the Final, himself responded, while veteran Protea pacer Dale Steyn termed the omission as “disgusting”.

“Really???”, du Plessis responded. “Who’s running this account? Last I checked Faf isn’t even retired, Imran isn’t retired, both these guys have given years of service to CSA and they [are] not worth a mention? Disgusting”, Steyn commented.

Notably, Ngidi only featured in three CSK fixtures in the 2021 edition – none in the UAE leg – picking five wickets, with his last outing being against Mumbai Indians on May 1 at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium. Du Plessis, on the other hand, was one of the chief contributors for the franchise throughout the season, no less his match-winning 59-ball 86 on the big final night against Kolkata Knight Riders.

He amassed 633 at 45.21 and a strike rate of 138.20 in the season, only two behind his partner Ruturaj Gaikwad’s Orange Cap-winning 635-run tally. Du Plessis’ South Africa counterpart Tahir, however, played only a solitary game in the season – against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Wankhede Stadium during the first half.

“That was a great day. I am really grateful for today. It was also my 100th game in the IPL. I have loved my time here. I have done almost ten years here – two seasons were a bit of a break. No. 4 in the trophy cabinet is really good. Gaikwad is a special talent. Indian cricket is blessed with talent. He is getting better. He’s got a super, bright future ahead of him. I have a word with him, but I don’t think he needs me,” du Plessis, who has not been named in South Africa’s 2021 T20 World Cup squad, said after CSK’s 27-run victory in the summit clash.