Kagiso Rabada Ruled Out of 2nd Test Against India

GUWAHATI: South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada will miss the second and final Test against India, which begins here on Saturday, due to injury.

The World Test champions won the opening match and are now aiming for their first series win on Indian soil since Hansie Cronje’s team triumphed there in 2000. South Africa will again be without Rabada, who also missed the victory in Kolkata due to a rib injury.

“Lungi Ngidi has been added. In terms of starting XI, we will finalize that tomorrow once we take one last look at the wicket,” said captain Temba Bavuma on Friday.

South Africa won a low-scoring opener at Eden Gardens, wrapping up the match in just three days after they bowled India out for 93 while chasing a target of 124.

“The mood is buoyant amongst the boys,” Bavuma said. “We’re excited to try and replicate our performances as we did in the first Test.”

“We’ll just try and make sure that we lock in for the next five days.”

South Africa defeated India at their own game of spin in Kolkata, on a turning pitch with uneven bounce, with South African spinner Simon Harmer returning match figures of 8-51. Bavuma’s top individual score was 55.

“I think it will be a more traditional sub-continent wicket,” Bavuma said of the Guwahati pitch.

“Good for batting the first two days, and then on day three, the spinners should come into play. So I think all the fundamentals that come with playing in the sub-continent, the first innings becomes crucial from a batting point of view to really set the game up.”

South Africa claimed the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia in June at Lord’s and drew 1-1 in Pakistan.

Bavuma remains unbeaten as Test captain in 11 outings, with 10 wins and one draw.