Kagiso Rabada set to play 2nd Test vs India? Colossal update arrives
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South African pacer Kagiso Rabada remains doubtful for the second Test at Guwahati Stadium after he was ruled out of the First Test due to a massive rib injury, which made him quit the series opener at Eden Gardens.
The South Africa tour of India marked a crucial series for both teams. India had drawn the series against England at the beginning of this WTC cycle and then went on to win the first home series against the West Indies. On the other hand, the defending champions, the Proteas, could manage to win just one of their two games against Pakistan.
The Eden Gardens Test led to further trouble for Team India, as the Indian skipper Shubman Gill was ruled out of the day's play on the second day after he suffered from neck spasms. He did not take the field later during South Africa's innings on Day 2.
Kagiso Rabada's rib injury kept him out of the Eden Gardens Test
South Africa arrived in India with their top squad loaded with all assets and skipper Temba Bavuma leading the side once again. Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton were back opening for the Proteas.
The middle order also looked convincing with the likes of Kyle Verreynne and Tony de Zorzi back in the South African middle order. With Marco Jansen's return, the squad looked complete; however, Kagiso Rabada's injury has been a blow to their campaign.
Kagiso Rabada sustained the injury during the first training session on Tuesday at the Eden Gardens, and despite consecutive medical checks, it led to the last-minute withdrawal from the first Test.
“KG (Kagiso Rabada) sustained the injury during the first training session on Tuesday. He underwent a scan on Wednesday morning and a fitness test this morning. He experienced discomfort and was ultimately ruled out of the game," the team media manager stated, as quoted by News18.
Rabada is “undergoing further assessments" for the Second Test appearance
South Africa are awaiting further assessments on Kagiso Rabada's availability for the second Test. The pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada could not start in the first Test in Kolkata due to a rib injury, and on queries about his inclusion for the second Test, the South African management confirmed that Rabada is “undergoing further assessments."
This report comes as of now on the 15th of November, a week before the Second Test scheduled to be held on the 22nd of November. The Proteas kept the decision on Rabada's participation on hold and would continue to do so until the morning of their next Test.
India resorts to a spin attack as play advances to the last season on Day 2
Jasprit Bumrah weaved his magic against the Proteas, and so did Marco Jansen for South Africa in the first two innings of the Kolkata Test. “The signs were there pretty early on that the bounce is not consistent," South Africa’s batting coach Ashwell Prince said.
“Quite often, you expect that when batters get to 20 or 30, they grow in confidence, but I don’t particularly believe that any of the batters grew in confidence because of the inconsistency of the bounce. What can happen then is that you don’t trust the surface as much as you should," he added.
However, despite the first two innings, India have shown dependence on their spinners after 4 of them have been included in India's XI, and it is expected that as the match progresses, the spinners are likely to come into the game. Kuldeep Yadav provided the first breakthrough, and Ravindra Jadeja struck twice in the second South African innings.
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