Lockie Ferguson

Verified Timeline

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.

In Their Own Story

The auction room buzzed with anticipation as franchises prepared their bids for the 2022 Indian Premier League season. When Lockie Ferguson's name came up, the Gujarat Titans moved quickly, securing the New Zealand speedster who had already made his mark on the international stage. Ferguson arrived in Ahmedabad carrying the reputation of a bowler who had taken his 150th first-class wicket during the 2019-20 Plunket Shield season and who had made his Test debut against Australia in December 2019. His IPL journey had begun with Rising Pune Supergiants in 2017, followed by a stint with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2019. Now, with the Titans, he joined a franchise looking to build on their historic start, bringing the same pace that had earned him a five-wicket haul in T20Is against the West Indies on 27 November 2020.

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?

• Lockie Ferguson made his T20I debut for New Zealand against Bangladesh on 3 January 2017, taking two wickets with his first two deliveries—only the second player in history to do so.
• His fastest recorded delivery is 157.3 km/h (97.7 mph).
• 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.
• He was named captain of the New Zealand ODI team for the series against Bangladesh on 2 September 2023 in the absence of Kane Williamson and Tom Latham.
• 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.