SA v IND: Injured Temba Bavuma out of New Year's Test, Dean Elgar likely to lead South Africa in farewell match

Temba Bavuma will be unavailable to lead the South African team in the 2nd Test against India in the New Year, coach Shukri Cornard said after the hosts wrapped up a sensational innings and 32-run win in the series opener in Centurion on Thursday, December 28.

Cornard confirmed that Temba Bavuma did not have a hamstring tear, but it was a strain after the skipper pulled up while fielding on Day 1 of the first Test in Centurion. Bavuma is set to have his injury assessed in the next two weeks and a call would be taken on his participation in the SA20, starting January 10.

Dean Elgar, who stood in as captain in the Centurion Test, is set to lead the side in what will be his farewell Test in Cape Town. Elgar, who hit a match-winning 185 in the series opener, will hang up his boots at the end of the series.

"Temba is not a great physical state. He was ready to bat at every turn. We kept monitoring it.



Certain things are tactical. We felt the potential riskâ€æ there is a potential risk he could aggravate. He will have it assessed in two weeks. He is definitely out for Cape Town," Cornard said, as quoted by ESPN after the Centurion Test ended in 3 days.

Zubayr Hamza will join the squad, the coach added.

On the first day of the Boxing Day Test against India, Bavuma walked off the field due to a hamstring injury. Bavuma sustained the injury during the 20th over of India's 1st innings, having chosen to put the visitors into bat after winning the toss.

While chasing the ball hit by Virat Kohli, Bavuma successfully halted its progress but suffered a left hamstring injury in the process. This prompted him to leave the field immediately. It is worth noting that Bavuma played with an injured right hamstring in his last match as well, which was the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup semi-final against India last month.