Who is Blessing Muzarabani? Meet RCB¡¯s 6ft 8in pacer replacing Lungi Ngidi amid fans' concern over Josh Hazlewood's return
RCB has signed Zimbabwe¡¯s 6ft 8in pacer Blessing Muzarabani as a temporary replacement for Lungi Ngidi ahead of the IPL 2025 playoffs. Meanwhile, fans remain anxious about Josh Hazlewood¡¯s return as he continues rehab for a shoulder injury.
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru have confirmed the signing of towering Zimbabwean pacer Blessing Muzarabani as a temporary replacement for Lungi Ngidi, who will return to South Africa on May 26 to begin preparations for the upcoming World Test Championship final. Muzarabani, known for his 6ft 8in frame and raw pace, joins RCB at a crucial juncture in their IPL 2025 campaign, with the team already securing a place in the playoffs.
In an official announcement on Instagram, RCB posted, "6 feet 8 inches tall, 28-year-old Zimbabwean speedster Blessing Muzarabani has been announced as RCB¡¯s temporary replacement for Lungi Ngidi, who returns to South Africa on the 26th! Lungi continues to be available for our next home game. Welcome to #????RCB, Blessing! ?"
Who is Blessing Muzarabani?
According to ESPNcricinfo, Blessing Muzarabani is widely regarded as Zimbabwe¡¯s most promising fast bowler since Heath Streak. Standing at 6ft 8in, his Rabada-like action and ability to generate steep bounce have made him a standout figure in Zimbabwe¡¯s cricket revival.
He was discovered at age seven at Takashinga Cricket Club and rose quickly through the Mashonaland Eagles and Zimbabwe U-19 ranks. Former captain Tatenda Taibu brought him into the Rising Stars program, and after an impressive domestic stint, Muzarabani earned a Test debut in 2017.
Though early international outings didn¡¯t bring immediate success, he signed a Kolpak deal with Northamptonshire. Post-Brexit, he returned to Zimbabwe in 2020 and made a strong comeback with a five-wicket haul and a match-winning Super Over against Pakistan. He later played a key role in a Test win over Afghanistan.
In T20 leagues, he has featured for Multan Sultans, Karachi Kings, St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots, and Gulf Giants and was a net bowler for Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2022.
RCB officially qualify for the IPL 2025 playoffs
In addition to the squad update, Royal Challengers Bengaluru fans finally received the confirmation they were waiting for ¡ª RCB have officially qualified for the IPL 2025 playoffs. Following Gujarat Titans' victory over Delhi Capitals on May 18 and the earlier rain-abandoned clash between RCB and KKR, Rajat Patidar and his squad sit comfortably with 17 points from 12 matches, making their playoff position mathematically secure.
The qualification brings an air of confidence to the Bengaluru camp, which has shown solid form throughout the season. With two league matches remaining, RCB will now look to fine-tune their strategies ahead of the knockout phase. They are scheduled to face Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 23 and close their group stage campaign with a fixture against Lucknow Super Giants on May 27.
Fans still worried about Josh Hazlewood's return
Royal Challengers Bengaluru¡¯s Director of Cricket, Mo Bobat, recently provided an update on Josh Hazlewood, confirming that the Australian speedster is yet to join the squad. He revealed that Hazlewood is currently recovering from a shoulder injury and remains under the joint supervision of Cricket Australia and the RCB medical staff.
However, despite the official update, fans remain concerned about Hazlewood¡¯s availability for the remainder of the IPL 2025 season. With the playoffs approaching and RCB aiming for their first title, fans continue to hope for the return of the experienced pacer to bolster the bowling attack at this critical stage. Meanwhile, Tim David and Phil Salt, two other key foreign players for RCB, have already joined the squad.
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