IPL 2018: The top tactical decisions that went under the radar

#4 The Ngidi effect on CSK

Bringing the Wanderers' effect onto Indian pitches

It surprised many when Super Kings picked Lungisani Ngidi. The only performance of Ngidi that people remembered prior to the IPL was the dominant outing he mustered against India in a Test match earlier this year. Because of the same reason, he was widely regarded as a Test-bowler and not really good for limited overs.

He hadn't made a big name for himself as a T20 player till that point. That was probably the reason for MS Dhoni to not start him as a first-choice earlier on in the game.

But later, as Dhoni remarked himself, "we need Ngidi and Asif (the pacer from Kerala) to ball the quicker ones when needed. That is why they are in the team". Ngidi became a regular member of the first eleven late in the tournament.

In just seven games, he gave the Super Kings control in the Powerplay and, more importantly, the thriftiness in the slog-overs that they were lacking early on in the season. His 10/4 in the allotted four overs against Punjab in the final match of the group stage literally washed away the northerners, quashing all hopes of a playoff entry. They were just not prepared to face CSK's spearhead. Such was the power and influence of Ngidi.