Colossus on hunt – Everything that you need to know about RCB’s latest signing, Blessing Muzarabani
With two matches remaining in the league stages and the play-offs to follow, RCB will miss the services of Lungi Ngidi for the game against LSG and the knockouts. However, to plug the void left by Ngidi, they've roped in the towering Zimbabwean fast-bowler, Blessing Muzarabani. So, the obvious question that follows in the wake of this move is - who is Blessing, and what does he bring to the fore?
Tipped as the most proficient successor of Heath Streak, Blessing Muzarabani has been labelled as one of the most exciting fast-bowling talents to hail from Zimbabwe. His whiplike release of the ball has drawn comparisons with South African pace express, Kagiso Rabada.
Scouted by his school coach at the Takashinga Cricket Club, Muzarabani brought the fire early in his career. Graduating from Mashonaland Eagles to the Zimbabwe U19s, Muzarabani left a lasting impression on Zimbabwean legend, Tatenda Taibu. Taibu included him in his domestic side called Rising Stars. He was a part of the England tour that happened for three months before returning to Zimbabwe where he claimed 18 wickets from five first-class matches at an average of 18.00. Such an impressive performance expedited his journey to the senior team and he eventually made his debut on the Boxing Day Test at Gqeberha in 2017.
Muzarabani has also been a part of Northamptonshire where he claimed 17 wickets in seven first-class matches. In 2020, when he returned to Zimbabwe, claimed his first fifer in ODIs which was laced with a 2/2 in a Super Over against Pakistan, showcasing his bowling flair to the world. That was the start of an ascent that would bring him to the international limelight, from where he has only maintained a reputation built over the years with blood, sweat and excellence.
In the shortest format of the game, Muzarabani has registered 127 wickets overall from 118 matches. His economy rate of 7.24 touts him as one of those frugal contenders who won’t just give in to anything without a full-blown duel with the batters. One of Muzarabani’s key elements of attack is his towering height where he rains hellfire upon batters from a viewpoint of 6 feet 8 inches.
He is also an extremely athletic fielder which adds to the bowling echelons of RCB that already boasts the likes of Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma.
