Veteran Chris Mpofu gears up for LLC 2024

VETERAN fast bowler Chris Mpofu has returned to India for yet another dance with some of the game’s celebrated former international players for the 2024 edition of the Legends League Cricket (LLC) T20.

The lanky fast bowler has become a fan favourite over the past couple of editions with his dazzling skill and dance moves when celebrating wickets. The Bulawayo-bred bowler is gearing up for the third edition of the competition, which started yesterday.

The “Magwegwe Express”, as Mpofu is affectionately known, continues to defy age and has become a celebrated figure in legends leagues tournaments that are set to revive the yesteryear greats. However, for the upcoming edition, Mpofu will be donning a different colour from the previous tournament.

With his services highly sought after, it was India Capitals who ended up winning his signature for this edition. His former team, Urbanrisers Hyderabad, were also in the race but lost the bid to Capitals during a player auction held a month ago.

Mpofu is already looking forward to the new challenge. For him, returning to India for another edition of the league is a dream fulfilled.

“I think playing in India in this legends league has been nothing short of amazing. Playing with people I grew up saying are the best is a dream come true. “I have been picked by a different team, India Capitals, from Urbanrisers Hyderabad, who are an amazing family also. Delhi Capitals were the highest bidders hence they snatched me from my former paymasters who still wanted my services,” Mpofu told Saturday Chronicle.

At India Capitals, the highly rated Mpofu will be playing alongside the likes of Ian Bell, Colin de Grandhomme, Kirk Edwards, Ben Dunk, Rahul Sharma, Dwayne Smith, and Iqbal Abdullah, among others.

Mpofu has been among the leading wicket-takers in the past couple of seasons and is looking at continuing with his wicket-taking prowess when the new season starts.

He has his eyes set on finishing in the top five among the wickets and also repaying the faith that the Capitals put in him.

“I don’t put myself under pressure. All I aim to do is to stick to doing well on executing my skills and I’m confident by the end of the tournament, I will be in the top five of top wicket-takers as I have done in the past three seasons. I just want to make sure that my team gets the value for their money,” said Mpofu.

In the previous edition, the Zimbabwean legend, who last played international cricket in 2020, reached the final with Urbanrisers where they lost by five wickets against his other former team, Manipal Tigers. Early this year, Mpofu was named bowler of the tournament in the Indian Veterans Premier League (IVPL) after claiming 15 wickets in seven matches.

He was one of the two bowlers to have picked up a five-wicket haul alongside Munaf Patel of Chhattisgarh Warriors. His best figures were 5/36 and he was the only bowler to also have managed to cross double figures in the wicket-taking charts. His nearest competitor was Mumbai Champions’ Amit Sanan, who had nine scalps to his name.

Those are some of the experiences that Mpofu has enjoyed so far. “I have had amazing memories in the past seasons, making the final in the LLC with Urbanrisers and being in the top three top wicket-takers. Also, playing in the Indian Veterans Premier League and being the best bowler of the tournament with 15 wickets was amazing, and like I said from season one, I have been in the top five wicket-takers, so for me that’s just a dream come true,” he said.

As they say, a prophet is never honoured in his hometown and Mpofu has found a home away from home in India. He has had fans and teammates join him in his unique style of celebrating a wicket. Whenever Mpofu picks a wicket, he breaks into a uniquely humorous and infectious dance and has managed to bring some fun to the game. He has become a darling of many fans.

“I can only give praise to the almighty God for the gift and talent He gave me. To know that I’m valued so much in India is a great feeling and as you know a prophet has no honour in his hometown.

“To my teammates, I’m just grateful for the times we had together. I had a great captain, Suresh Raina, and I know he tried to have me back,” he said.

The LLC is made up of six teams who have been put into two groups of three. Mpofu’s Capitals are in group one alongside Konark Suryas Odisha and Manipal Tigers. The other group is made up of Gujarat Team, Urbanrisers Hyderabad and Southern Superstars.