Temba Bavuma has been ruled out of the Cape Town Test against India, due to the hamstring strain he suffered on the first day of the Boxing Day Test. He didn’t come out to bat in South Africa’s only innings in the Test which the hosts won by an innings and 32 runs inside three days.
Dean Elgar, who took as captain from Bavuma, will continue to lead South Africa in the second and final Test of the series. This will also mean that Elgar, who won the Player of the Match in Centurion, will captain South Africa in his final Test match in an emotional farewell.
South Africa has drafted Zubayr Hamza as Bavuma’s replacement which was confirmed by coach Shukri Conrad.
"Temba is not in a great physical state. He was ready to bat at every turn. We kept monitoring it. You put something out there, I don't know if the opposition will pick up on it. Certain things are tactical. We felt the potential risk… there is a potential risk he could aggravate. He will have it assessed in two weeks’ time. He is definitely out for Cape Town. Zubayr Hamza will join the squad,” Shukri Conrad, South Africa's coach, said as per ESPNCricinfo.
South Africa scored 408 runs in their only innings with Elgar top-scoring with 185. He got support from debutant David Bedingham (56) and Marco Jansen (84*). This was after India was bowled out for 245 runs thanks to KL Rahul’s 101 and Kagiso Rabada’s five-wicket haul.
In the second innings, India bundled out for 131 runs with Virat Kohli leading with 76 and Shubman Gill making 26 runs. Debutant Nandre Burger took 4/33 and seven for the match.
The second and final Test begins in Cape Town on January 3rd.
