India vs South Africa: South Africa skipper 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.

The hosts are already 1-0 up in the two-match series, having won the first Test by an innings and 32 runs at the SuperSport Park in Centurion on Thursday, December 28.

Dean Elgar, who captained the side in the first match in the absence of Bavuma, will also be leading the side in the second match which will be the last of his career.

Elgar announced his retirement, making the ongoing Test series against India the last of his career which he kicked off in style with a remarkable innings of 185 runs.

 

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While Bavuma will be out, Zubayr Hamza will be added to the squad.

"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," Shukri Conrad, South Africa's coach, said.

"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.

"Since Bavuma's injury occurred, on the first morning of the match, there had been no communication from team management on whether he would take any further part in the match and when South Africa batted, there was no clarity on if Bavuma would bat."

Bavuma left the field on the opening day after picking up the injury and wasn't seen in action for the rest of the match.

He didn't even come out to bat in South Africa's first innings as the coach Conrad opened up on the decision.

Bavuma probably would have batted. But, once their lead grew to more than 150 runs, they decided that they were in a comfortable enough position not to need Bavuma.

"We were constantly giving ourselves maximum time so we could give out the right information," Conrad said. "If we lost wickets early, he would have walked on. With 150 runs ahead, I felt it wasn't necessary to risk Temba.

"Bavuma was diagnosed with a left hamstring strain, not a tear, and will have the injury assessed in two weeks' time to determine his availability for his next assignment, with the Sunrisers Eastern Cape at the SA20. He will not play in South Africa's two-Test series against New Zealand early next year because of his SA20 commitments."

 

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This was Bavuma's first outing since South Africa's semi-final at the 50-over World Cup against Australia on November 16, where he was carrying a right hamstring strain.

The second Test between India and South Africa will be played at the Newlands in Cape Town and will commence on Wednesday, January 3.