Temba Bavuma Injury Update: Medical Team Says ‘Too Much Risk’ To Allow Batting In First Innings

Temba Bavuma injury update: The South African medical team explained why their captain did not bat in the first innings.

South Africa played the Boxing Day Test match at Centurion and on the second morning beat India for 245 with KL Rahul scoring 101 and Kagiso Rabada scoring 5-59.

At the start of India’s innings, South African captainThemba Bavuma left the field with a left hamstring injuryand returned only when India were bowled out. Dean Elgar, playing in his final Test series, was installed as captain.

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South Africa had posted a batting average of 408 by the afternoon of the third day, securing a lead of 163 runs. Elgar scored his 185 of those and Jasprit Bumrah returned his 4-69. When the ninth wicket fell, Marko was batting with Janssen for his 84 and his 100th Test was also in sight, so there were also expectations that Bavuma might rise.

However, Bavuma did not come into bat and South Africa’s innings was declared over at that point. South Africa’s medical team then posted an update on his injury status on his X (formerly Twitter).

“Following continued medical evaluation, it has been determined that had he been at bat at this stage of the game, there would have been a significant risk of worsening his left hamstring injury.” they said. “The medical team is looking after him to give him the best chance to bat if needed in the fourth inning.”

At the time of writing, India were 105 for 6 in the second innings with Virat Kohli (55) and Shardul Thakur (2) doing well at the crease. Bavuma may not need to bat again as he needs 58 more runs for South Africa to bat again.

However, there is currently no update on Bavuma’s availability for the New Year’s Test match at Newlands in Cape Town.

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