Picture Credit: X
South Africa are hosting the Men in Blue in a multi-format series, which kickstarted early in December. While the three-match T20I series ended in a 1-1 draw, the visitors clinched the ODI leg by 2-1 margin. The action has now shifted to the Test series, the first of which is being played at the SuperSport Park in Centurion.
Speaking of the first Test, while the Temba Bavuma-led side invited the Rohit Sharma’s Men in Blue to bat first, a prolific bowling lineup dismissed the Indian top order at the mere score of 24. However, KL Rahul’s gritty half-century helped them put 208/8 at Stumps on Day 1, South African skipper Temba Bavuma was also in news after he limped off the field with injury.
Seeing the skipper’s fitness, former Protean opener, Herschelle Gibbs has hit out at Bavuma, calling him unfit and overweight. “Ironic that the coach allows some players who are clearly unfit and overweight to play when he started off as proteas trainer in 2009,” Gibbs quoted on X replying to a fan updating on Temba’s injury.
Speaking of Bavuma’s injury, the 33-year-old sustained the injury while chasing the ball in the 20th over. He was seen pulling his hamstring as he almost reached the ball, later walking off the field with Dean Elgar taking over the captaincy reins. Notably, this isn’t the first time in past few days. Bavuma who led the side in the ODI World Cup 2023 in India was forced to retire in the match against South Africa.
