Kagiso Rabada Doubtful For India Tests Due To Injury

image-lq53xvmgKagiso Rabada is doubtful for IND Tests [X.com]

Kagiso Rabada's availability for the Test series against India is shrouded in uncertainty, creating a significant concern that is amplified given Anrich Nortje's confirmed absence and the unresolved status of Lungi Ngidi. 

Rabada, grappling with a heel issue stemming from the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup in India, where he couldn't bowl in the later stages of the semi-final against Australia, has been sidelined since then.

Seasoned pacer Anrich Nortje is contending with a lumbar stress fracture that has kept him off the field since September 10. 

Ngidi, who suffered a sprained ankle, has been ruled out of the ongoing T20I series against India, including this week's round of first-class matches, compounding South Africa's fast-bowling woes. Now, Rabada's participation in the Test series hangs in the balance.

Opting to skip domestic first-class fixtures, Rabada aims to prepare for the upcoming Test series against India, scheduled to commence on December 26. 

In sync with Rabada, South Africa's skipper Temba Bavuma has also withdrawn from domestic matches to focus on preparations for the Test series. Both were slated to represent the Lions against the Dolphins in Durban but are now unavailable due to individual circumstances.

The official statement mentioned Bavuma's involvement in a 'personal matter,' while Rabada has encountered a heel niggle, rendering them unavailable for domestic competition. The statement read, 

"Bavuma has a personal matter to attend to and Rabada has a heel niggle."

Injury concerns for the Proteas

Nortje and Ngidi are already under injury cloud. Should Rabada fail to recover before the first Test at SuperSport Park Cricket Stadium in Centurion on December 26, it could create a substantial void in South Africa's pace attack for the upcoming Test series against India. Just in case Rabada is ruled out, Lizaad Williams can be seen as a replacement for him.

Compounding South Africa's bowling challenges, two other fast bowlers, Gerald Coetzee and Marco Jansen, have been released from the T20I squad and will be rested for the subsequent ODI series. Specifically, the duo will participate in the preparation match ahead of the Test series.

Amid these challenges, Nandre Burger has earned inclusion in the white-ball squad, and he could well make his debut in the third T20I against India at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on December 14. 

However, Wiaan Mulder, another bowling option for the Proteas in both the Test and ODI squads, will not partake in the round of first-class fixtures, intensifying the pressure on South Africa's bowling resources. The first Test will start on December 26 in Pretoria, with the second on January 3 at Newlands in Cape Town.