Temba Bavuma And Kagiso Rabada Set To Miss Domestic Fixtures Ahead Of India Test Series

South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma will be unavailable for a domestic first-class fixture ahead of the two-match Test series against India due to a personal situation. Kagiso Rabada is still recovering from a heel niggle that troubled him during the ODI World Cup semi-final.

Temba Bavuma and Kagiso Rabada were rested for the white-ball leg of the home series against India. They initially expected to participate in a domestic first-class fixture as preparation for the red-ball series, scheduled to commence on December 26 in Centurion.

Kagiso Rabada and Temba Bavuma to Miss First-Class Game

Bavuma and Rabada were supposed to feature for the Lions against the Dolphins in Durban, but the Lions confirmed that both are unavailable. Bavuma is dealing with a personal matter, while Rabada is nursing a heel niggle, according to a statement from the Lions.

“Bavuma has a personal matter to attend to and Rabada has a heel niggle,” a statement from the Lions read.

The severity of Rabada’s injury adds to the challenge for South Africa, who are already missing Anrich Nortje recovering from a back issue. Additionally, Lungi Ngidi’s availability is uncertain due to a late injury, ruling him out of the ongoing T20I series against India.

Gerald Coetzee and Marco Jansen are set to miss the third T20I and the upcoming ODI series against India, as confirmed by Cricket South Africa (CSA). The duo is expected to participate in the first-class competition to prepare for the Test matches against India.

Temba Bavuma, who has been sidelined since South Africa’s ODI World Cup campaign in November due to a hamstring injury, is set to be available for the Test series. The Proteas skipper played a pivotal role in the Test series victory against the West Indies in March.

India Tour of South Africa Test Matches Schedule

• 1st Test – South Africa vs India – December 26-30: Centurion
• 2nd Test – South Africa vs India – January 3-7: Cape Town

South Africa Test squad: Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Dean Elgar, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Keegan Petersen, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs and Kyle Verreynne.

Also read: IND Vs SA: Kagiso Rabada In Awe Of Rohit Sharma And Virat Kohli As He Lavishes Praise On The Duo Ahead Of Marquee Clash