South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada is doubtful for the second Test at the Guwahati Stadium after being ruled out of the first Test due to a serious rib injury, which forced him to miss the first match of the series at the Eden Gardens.
India’s tour of South Africa was an important series for both teams. India had drawn the series against England at the start of this WTC cycle and then won the first home series against West Indies. On the other hand, defending champions Proteas could win only one of their two matches against Pakistan.
Team India’s troubles increased further in the Eden Gardens Test, as Indian captain Shubman Gill was ruled out of the day’s play due to neck cramps on the second day. He did not take the field during South Africa’s innings on the second day.
Kagiso Rabada’s rib injury rules him out of Eden Gardens Test
South Africa arrived in India with their top team fully loaded with all the resources and captain Temba Bavuma is once again leading the team. Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton were opening for the Proteas.
The South African middle order also looks confident with the return of players like Kyle Verreynne and Tony De Zorzi. With the return of Marco Jensen, the team seemed complete; However, Kagiso Rabada’s injury is a blow to their campaign.
Kagiso Rabada suffered an injury during the first training session at the Eden Gardens on Tuesday and despite continuing medical check-ups, it led to his last-minute withdrawal from the first Test.
“KG (Kagiso Rabada) suffered an 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 eventually ruled out of the game,” the team media manager was quoted as saying by News 18.
Rabada is “undergoing further evaluation” for the second Test.
South Africa is awaiting further assessment on Kagiso Rabada’s availability for the second Test. Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada could not start in the first Test in Kolkata due to a rib injury, and when asked about his inclusion for the second Test, the South African management confirmed that Rabada is “undergoing further evaluation.”
This report came on November 15, a week before the second Test to be held on November 22. The Proteas have withheld a decision on Rabada’s participation and will continue to do so until the morning of their next Test.
India resorted to spin attack as final season play progressed on day two
Jasprit Bumrah worked his magic against the Proteas in the first two innings of the Kolkata Test and Marco Johnson did the same for South Africa. “There were signs early on that the surge was not going to be sustained,” South Africa’s batting coach Ashwell Prince said.
He said, “Often, you expect that when batsmen get 20 or 30, their confidence increases, but I don’t particularly believe that any batsman’s confidence increases because of the inconsistency of the bounce. What can happen then is that you don’t trust the surface as much as you should.”
However, despite the first two innings, India have shown reliance on their spinners, with 4 of them included in India’s XI, and it is expected that as the match progresses, the spinners are likely to come into play. Kuldeep Yadav provided the first breakthrough and Ravindra Jadeja achieved the breakthrough twice in the second South African innings.
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