South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada has been ruled out of the first Test against India at the Eden Gardens due to a rib injury. There is no guarantee as to if he will make it to the playing XI for the second Test either that is set to be held in Guwahati that will commence from November 22.
Rabada ruled out hours before the game
According to ESPNcricinfo, Rabada was taken for scans after the injury occurred. Though he had taken part in the team's training session on Wednesday, he was absent from their optional training session on Thursday. He underwent a fitness test hours before the match commenced on Friday and was ruled out after experiencing discomfort.
South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma had earlier revealed that Rabada will not be taking part in the match at the toss, but had not stated the exact reason behind his unavailability.
"We will have a bat. The boys just came back from Pakistan. I was with the A team. From a preparation point of view, we've done as best as we can. It's not every day you get to play against 50,000-60,000 people in the stands. So, I'm looking forward to the challenge. Being back in India, it's always an eye-opener. Looking forward to everything. It's been sitting well at the moment (on being the World Test Champions). Hopefully, nothing really changes. For the performance point of view, work around with a lot more pride. But to keep doing what we've been doing. (On the pitch) It's on the dry side. Not much grass. It's a typical Indian wicket. First innings runs is the key. Rabada misses out, Corbin Bosch comes in his place," Bavuma said at the toss.
Bosch comes in Rabada's place
An inexperienced Corbin Bosch was brought into the playing XI in Rabada's place. The all-rounder has only played three matches in the longest format so far, scoring 217 runs and picking up 15 wickets. He is one of the three pacers present in South Africa''s playing XI alongside Wiaan Mulder and Marco Jansen. Though Bosch was present in the Proteas' squad for the recently concluded two-match Test series against Pakistan, he wasn't given a chance in the playing XI in any of the two games.
India's playing XI for 1st Test: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, Shubman Gill(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.
South Africa's playing XI for 1st Test: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma(c), Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne(w), Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj.