Rabada Out Of Second India Test, South Africa Confident Ahead Of Guwahati Clash

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma remained upbeat on Friday as fast bowler Kagiso Rabada was ruled out of the second and final Test against India in Guwahati due to a rib injury.

Rabada also missed the first Test victory in Kolkata, where South Africa secured a rare win on Indian soil.

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The World Test champions, who won the opener in just three days, are now chasing their first series win in India since Hansie Cronje’s team achieved the feat in 2000.

“Lungi Ngidi has been added. In terms of starting XI we will finalise that tomorrow once we take one last look at the wicket,” Bavuma confirmed.

Buoyant South Africa Despite Rabada Out Eye Repeat Performance in India

South Africa dominated a low-scoring first Test, dismissing India for 93 while chasing 124. Bavuma described the team’s mood ahead of the Guwahati Test as “buoyant”.

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

“Everyone is looking forward to it, looking at where the series is at, the whole narrative around it all. We’ll just try and make sure that we lock in for the next five days.”

The skipper expects the Guwahati pitch to be a more traditional subcontinent surface. “Good for batting the first two days and then 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,” he said.

South Africa previously outplayed India on spin in Kolkata, with Simon Harmer taking 8-51 across both innings. Bavuma top-scored for the tourist side with 55.

Series Context and Match Details

Bavuma acknowledged that a two-match series isn’t ideal for a bilateral contest. “Look, however way the series goes, 1-1, 2-0, you know, it would be nice for a three-four match series against a formidable team like India.

“We woke up this morning to watch the Ashes, and we watched with a little bit of jealousy knowing that they were 5-5 Tests, they’ll be going at each other,” he said.

The South Africa skipper has an unbeaten record in 11 Tests as captain, winning 10 and drawing one.

Play in Guwahati will start at 9:00 am (0330 GMT), with the session order adjusted to tea before lunch. Bavuma confirmed the change “really doesn’t change much from a cricketing point of view”.

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