Lockie Ferguson

Lore & Background

Lockie Ferguson's journey to the Gujarat Titans began at the 2022 Indian Premier League auction, where the franchise secured his services. Known for his searing pace and lethal bouncers, Ferguson had already established himself as one of the world's fastest bowlers. His international credentials included being part of the New Zealand squad that finished as runners-up at the 2019 Cricket World Cup, where the ICC named him the rising star of the squad and included him in the Team of the Tournament. Ferguson's ability to bowl at speeds exceeding 90 mph made him a valuable asset for the Titans, who were looking to maintain their bowling dominance after their inaugural championship victory. His presence in the lineup added genuine express pace to the attack, capable of unsettling batsmen with raw speed and aggressive short-pitched bowling.

Reader's Guide

Lockie Ferguson joined the Gujarat Titans as a specialist fast bowler capable of delivering at speeds exceeding 90 mph, with his fastest recorded at 157.3 km/h (97.7 mph). His role in the team centered on using his express pace to challenge batsmen, particularly with his lethal bouncers and yorkers. Ferguson's international experience made him a valuable addition. He had made his ODI debut for New Zealand against Australia on 4 December 2016, and his T20I debut against Bangladesh on 3 January 2017, where he took two wickets with his first two deliveries—only the second player to achieve this feat. He was part of New Zealand's 2019 Cricket World Cup squad and was named captain for the ODI series against Bangladesh on 2 September 2023 in the absence of regular captain Kane Williamson and stand-in captain Tom Latham. For the Titans, Ferguson provided genuine pace options in the powerplay and death overs. His ability to bowl four consecutive maidens—as he did against Papua New Guinea on 17 June 2024 in the T20 World Cup, becoming the first player to achieve this in a Men's T20 World Cup match—demonstrated his control alongside his speed. Despite injury setbacks, including being ruled out of the 2021 T20 World Cup with a calf tear and the 2025 Champions Trophy with a foot injury, Ferguson remained a potent weapon when fit.

Did You Know?

• On 17 June 2024, Ferguson became the first player to bowl four maidens in a Men's T20 World Cup match, returning figures of 3/0 in four overs against Papua New Guinea.
• Ferguson was part of the New Zealand squad that finished as runners-up at the 2019 Cricket World Cup and was named the ICC's rising star of the tournament.