South Africa vs India 2018: Temba Bavuma ruled out with injury
What's the story?
South African batsman Temba Bavuma, who fractured his ring finger playing for the Cape Cobras in the domestic One-Day Cup, has been ruled out for roughly three to four weeks. The 27-year-old is a part of South Africa's Test squad for the ongoing series against India but didn't feature in the first two Tests.
Despite his unavailability for the third Test that begins on January 24 at Johannesburg, he will remain in the squad and no replacement for him has been named.
In case you didn't know...
South Africa have already claimed the three-match Test series 2-0 and head into the final Test looking to whitewash India. South Africa began the series with a 72-run win at Cape Town courtesy of a Vernon Philander masterclass while a Man of the Match performance from Lungi Ngidi on Test debut helped them take an unassailable 2-0 lead at Centurion.
The heart of the matter
The 27-year-old featured in the first four-day Test between South Africa and Zimbabwe in Port Elizabeth and scored 44 but the return of AB de Villiers has meant that he has been on the bench during the ongoing Test series against India. After that, he featured in the One Day Cup match for the Cape Cobras against the Knights at Cape Town, a game in which he scored a crucial fifty to help his side over the line.
What's next?
South Africa take on India in the third and final Test at Johannesburg that begins on January 24.
Author's take
South Africa are unlikely to change a winning combination going into the final Test and while the injury to a key member of their Test squad isn't great news, it isn't one that immediately affects them. Given that he is unlikely to feature in the ODI and T20I squads to face Sri Lanka, the Proteas will be hoping that he regains full fitness ahead of Australia's trip to South Africa.