Major blow to South Africa, Kagiso Rabada ruled out of ODI series against Australia

Kagiso Rabada will miss South Africa's three-match ODI series against Australia due to a hamstring injury.

Rabada, South Africa's leading red-ball bowler, sustained the injury 10 days prior and faces a recovery period of just under six weeks. This setback rules him out of the ODI series scheduled for next month but leaves hope for his availability in the ensuing three-match Test series set to begin on October 9th. The Test series is part of an important home summer featuring eight Tests, where Rabada's contributions will be vital as South Africa aims to defend their World Test Championship title.

Rabada played a crucial role in South Africa's 2025 World Test Championship victory over Australia, claiming nine wickets that significantly impacted the series. His fitness concerns are especially significant given the demanding schedule South Africa faces in the upcoming season. Despite this, the team has shown resilience before, having won a series in India without Rabada due to a previous rib injury.