Cop Who Once Played With Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh Helped Injured Lungi Ngidi Reach Hospital In 11 Minutes

Lungi Ngidi is now stable and recovering, but the frightening scenes during the IPL 2026 clash between Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings at the Arun Jaitley Stadium left players and fans deeply shaken. The South African pacer suffered a serious neck injury after landing awkwardly on the turf, collapsing instantly and remaining motionless, which forced medical staff to rush in and an ambulance to enter the field.

As concern mounted inside the stadium, Delhi Police officer ACP Sanjay Singh stepped in at a crucial moment and helped create a green corridor through peak evening traffic, ensuring Ngidi was taken to hospital in just 11 minutes instead of the usual 25 to 30 minutes. Speaking to Hindustan Times, Singh detailed how the emergency response unfolded and how traffic was cleared across key junctions in central Delhi.

How Lungi Ngidi's Injury Triggered Emergency Action

The incident took place last week during the IPL 2026 fixture between Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings in Delhi. Ngidi appeared to land heavily on his neck while attempting a move on the field, immediately collapsing in distress.

The seriousness of the situation became clear when he remained unresponsive and had to be fitted with a neck brace before being carefully shifted into an ambulance. With Delhi approaching one of its busiest traffic windows around 6:15 PM, every minute became critical as officials looked to get him to BLK Max Hospital in Rajender Nagar without delay.

ACP Sanjay Singh Explains How The Green Corridor Was Created

"I'm ACP Traffic of Centre District, and the Arun Jaitley Stadium comes under this jurisdiction. Whenever IPL matches take place, the overall jurisdiction lies with the DCP, and I also control a few things. I was outside the stadium, someone was watching the match on mobile, and then I was informed that someone had faced an injury inside the stadium and an ambulance had entered the field," Singh said.

He said he immediately understood the gravity of the situation once he saw the ambulance stationed near Gate No. 2 and noticed Ngidi inside.

"I thought if the ambulance entered the field, then the player had to be taken to the hospital. We had to give the route to the traffic guys. I went there, and the ambulance was near Gate No.2. The Delhi Capitals officials were also there. Lungi Ngidi was inside the ambulance, wearing an oxygen mask. He wasn't moving, and panic gripped the people. I asked the driver, 'Where are you taking him?' It was then that he said that the plan was to take him to BLK Max Hospital in Rajender Nagar," he added.

Why Google Maps Was Not Enough During Peak Delhi Traffic

Singh said he quickly realised that simply relying on navigation would not be enough in Delhi's rush-hour traffic. When the ambulance driver said he would follow Google Maps, the ACP decided immediate intervention was necessary and ordered the creation of a green corridor.

"I asked the driver, ' Do you know the route? He told me that he would follow the Google Maps. It was peak hour. I immediately informed the control room and told them the entire route from the stadium to the hospital. Everyone was informed that the important junctions, such as Mandi House, should have proper traffic police deployment. It was then decided that a green corridor should be created," he said.

He further explained how the operation worked and how quickly the route was cleared.

"Green corridor means the traffic signal would be green for the entire route that the ambulance takes. Fortunately, everyone worked properly. The entire 8 km distance was covered in 11 minutes. One Delhi Capitals official was also travelling in my car, I was monitoring the entire situation, and I was getting the traffic cleared," he added.

The result was dramatic. A journey that usually takes between 25 and 30 minutes from Arun Jaitley Stadium to Rajender Nagar was completed in just 11 minutes after major junctions were cleared in advance.

Former Cricketer Sanjay Singh Says He Understood The Urgency

What many may not know is that ACP Sanjay Singh also has a cricketing background, something he says helped him understand the seriousness of the moment even more clearly.

Not only did he play for the Delhi Police cricket team, but he also featured in DDCA League matches alongside several big Indian names during his playing days.

"There's a Delhi Police cricket team. I played for the last time in 2012. There's one thing called the DDCA League Cricket match. Matches are played group-wise. There were ONGC and Indian Airlines teams, so Yuvraj Singh, Gautam Gambhir, Mohammad Kaif and Virender Sehwag all used to play. Virat Kohli was a kid back then; he used to play too. I have played cricket with all of them," said Singh.

His familiarity with the sport and the risks involved may have added to the urgency with which he moved once he realised the extent of Ngidi's injury.

Delhi Police Says It Can Create Green Corridors At Short Notice

Singh also highlighted that the Delhi Police has the operational readiness to establish a green corridor at very short notice, crediting senior officers and prior training for the swift execution.

"Recently, an Artificial Intelligence Programme was killed, and members from several countries had come here. Our senior officials trained us properly at that time. We can create a green corridor at any time and implement it quickly. The entire credit goes to our senior officials," concluded Singh.

For now, the biggest relief is that Ngidi is stable and recovering after what was a deeply alarming on-field incident. But the 11-minute emergency transfer, made possible by quick coordination and decisive action, may well have proved crucial in those tense moments after the Delhi Capitals pacer's injury.