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GUWAHATI: South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada has been ruled out of the second and final Test against India, starting here on Saturday, because of injury.
The World Test champions won the first match and are chasing a first series win on Indian soil since Hansie Cronje’s team triumphed there in 2000. They must again do without Rabada, who also missed the victory in Kolkata with a rib injury.
“Lungi Ngidi has been added. In terms of starting XI, we will finalise that tomorrow once we take one last look at the wicket,” captain Temba Bavuma said on Friday.
The tourists won a low-scoring opener at Eden Gardens inside three days after they bundled out India for 93 while chasing 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 beat India at their own game of spin in Kolkata on a turning pitch with uneven bounce.
Pundits slammed the track, where South African spinner Simon Harmer returned match figures of 8-51.
Bavuma made a best individual score of 55.
“I think it will be a more traditional sub-continent wicket,” Bavuma said of the Guwahati strip.
“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, first innings becomes crucial from a batting point of view to really set the game up.”
South Africa beat Australia to win the World Test Championship (WTC) final in June at Lord’s and recently drew 1-1 in Pakistan.
Bavuma has an unbeaten record as Test captain in 11 outings, winning 10 and drawing one.
