New Delhi: Lungi Ngidi knew as a child that life wasn't a bed of roses but loved the fact that on a cricket pitch, the inequalities -- be it social or financial -- vanished with talent prevailing over everything else. The 23-year-old South African fast bowler has seen poverty closely but it has never been able to impede his rapid strides in international cricketer as he hopes to build on his four Tests and 22 ODIs.

"I was aware from a very young age obviously that my parents weren't as well off as other families but we did make ends meet. But I never put them under any pressure to provide things that was outside of their comfort zone and range. I was okay with that," Ngidi told PTI during an interview. Ngidi fondly remembers how parents of his classmates used to help him out with cricket gears as he was admitted on a sports scholarship.