Kagiso Rabada suffers heel niggle ahead of India tests - Reports

Kagiso Rabada and Temba Bavuma have been ruled out of preparatory FC matches.

South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada and captain Temba Bavuma, who were earlier set to play for the Lions in First-Class cricket, have been ruled out from doing so. This comes as a huge blow for the two players who were seeing these matches as prepare for the upcoming India Tests.

India will play two Tests against South Africa on their ongoing tour. Currently, the Indian team is engaged in a three-match T20I series, which will be followed by a three-match ODI series and then the two Tests will be played from December 26-30 in Centurion and January 3-7 in Cape Town.

Temba Bavuma and Kagiso Rabada were due to turn out for the Lions against the Dolphins in Durban starting on Thursday, but the Lions confirmed that neither were available.

“Bavuma has a personal matter to attend to and Kagiso Rabada has a heel niggle,” the statement read as per ESPNCricinfo report. The statement also added that Lions’ coach Russell Domingo was “disappointed” not to have them in the XI.

Bavuma hasn’t played since South Africa’s ODI World Cup campaign ended in the semi-finals against Australia on November 16, when he suffered a hamstring injury. He last played a Test match in March 2023, when South Africa defeated the West Indies by 172 runs at the Wanderers. He is anticipated to be available for the first Test against India.

Kagiso Rabada suffering from heel injury, adds to South Africa’s woes

On the other hand, if Kagiso Rabada’s injury is severe, South Africa may be without their complete frontline pace attack for the Tests against India. Anrich Nortje has been ruled out of the series while recovering from a lower-back stress fracture.

Lungi Ngidi had to withdraw from the T20I series due to an ankle sprain and will also miss the start of the first-class season on Thursday. Rabada’s heel injury began during the ODI World Cup when he was unable to bowl in the final portions of the semi-final against Australia.

Also Gerald Coetzee and Marco Jansen have been released from the South Africa T20I squad and will not play the ODIs against India as they will take part in the first-class competition in preparation of the Tests series.

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