A groin injury has ruled South Africa’s fast bowler Lungi Ngidi out until January, sidelining him from both the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka and the all-format tour of Pakistan. Ngidi, who last played in an ODI series against Ireland in Abu Dhabi, has bilateral proximal adductor tendinopathy. Following a recent medical assessment, he’ll now undergo rehabilitation in hopes of returning by January.
Meanwhile, Temba Bavuma, South Africa’s leading Test run-scorer over the past three years, is also doubtful for the first Test against Sri Lanka starting on November 27 in Durban. Recovering from a left elbow injury, Bavuma will have a fitness test on November 18 to determine his availability. If he is unable to play, Aiden Markram will step in as captain. Bavuma sustained the elbow injury while completing a run against Ireland, marking a recurring problem from a previous injury during South Africa’s 2022 T20I series in India.
South Africa’s current World Test Championship (WTC) campaign has been heavily impacted by Bavuma’s absence. Since assuming the captaincy in February last year, Bavuma has only appeared in five of South Africa’s 10 Tests. In the 2023-25 WTC cycle, he has led South Africa in just three out of eight matches and batted in only two, as injuries have consistently interrupted his time on the field. For South Africa to secure a place in the WTC final at Lord’s, they must win all four home Tests, though three wins could still be sufficient with favorable results elsewhere.
If Bavuma is unavailable, Ryan Rickelton is likely to retain his spot in the batting lineup after his recent appearances against Bangladesh, while Markram will captain the side despite limited form in his last six Test innings.
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