Online Reporter
ROYAL Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), have signed Zimbabwean fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani as a temporary replacement for Lungi Ngidi, who is set to depart to join South Africa’s preparations for the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The replacement will take effect from May 26, a day before RCB’s final league-phase fixture against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), in Lucknow. This move is aimed at strengthening RCB’s bowling unit, ahead of their last league match and the upcoming playoffs.
According to an IPL statement, Muzarabani will join RCB on a contract worth INR 75 lakh.
The 28-year-old Zimbabwean has been in fine form in red-ball cricket, having taken 10 wickets in two Tests against Bangladesh, including a standout six-wicket haul in Sylhet. His T20 credentials are equally impressive, with 127 wickets in 118 matches, at an economy rate of 7.24. Muzarabani’s addition is expected to bolster RCB’s pace attack, complementing the efforts of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yash Dayal.
Involved in a historic Test match against England, which concludes on May 25, Muzarabani is eager to join RCB for their May 27, clash against LSG. However, his availability for that match will depend on his national team commitments.
Muzarabani is part of Zimbabwe’s squad for their four-day Test against England at Trent Bridge from May 22 to 25 and will link up with RCB following the conclusion of that fixture. Zimbabwe are also scheduled to play South Africa in Arundel on June 3 — the same day as the IPL 2025 final — which will serve as a warm-up match for South Africa, ahead of the WTC final.
Eight South African players —Kagiso Rabada (Gujarat Titans), Aiden Markram (Lucknow Super Giants), Marco Jansen (Punjab Kings), Tristan Stubbs (Delhi Capitals), Wiaan Mulder (Sunrisers Hyderabad), Ryan Rickelton and Corbin Bosch (Mumbai Indians) and Ngidi — are set to depart for the United Kingdom on May 30. Cricket South Africa (CSA) has confirmed that these players will not complete their IPL commitments due to the rescheduling caused by border tensions between India and Pakistan.
RCB are without their leading wicket-taker this season, Josh Hazlewood, who is sidelined with a shoulder injury. However, the rest of their overseas contingent has returned following the break. Among them, Jacob Bethell is also set to leave for the ODI series against the West Indies, ahead of RCB’s penultimate league match.
RCB secured a place in the IPL 2025 playoffs on Sunday night after Gujarat Titans (GT) defeated Delhi Capitals (DC). They sit second on the points table with 17 points — eight wins and one no-result from 12 matches — and have remaining fixtures against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at home in Bengaluru on Friday, followed by the match against LSG.
Although Muzarabani has never played in an IPL match, he has previously served as a net bowler for LSG. RCB’s current head coach, Andy Flower— also from Zimbabwe — was part of the LSG coaching staff at the time. The two have also worked together at Multan Sultans in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and at Gulf Giants in the ILT20.
Muzarabani has been a standout performer for Zimbabwe in recent Test matches, claiming 26 wickets in his last four appearances, including a nine-wicket match haul in Zimbabwe’s victory over Bangladesh in Sylhet, in April.
He now becomes the fifth Zimbabwean to be part of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The first was Tatenda Taibu, who played for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the inaugural 2008 season.
Ray Price followed in 2011 with Mumbai Indians (MI), while Brendan Taylor was picked by SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in 2014, though he never featured in a match. Most recently, Sikandar Raza represented Punjab Kings (PBKS) in 2024, playing two matches.
Muzarabani, aged 28, brings considerable international experience to the RCB squad. He has played 70 T20 Internationals (T20Is), taking 78 wickets, along with 12 Test matches and 55 One Day Internationals (ODIs). His inclusion is expected to add valuable depth and firepower to RCB’s bowling arsenal. — Agencies/Sports Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu