26 December 2023 07:11 pm Views - 289
Dean Elgar, in his final Test series, took over the captaincy for South Africa in Centurion after Bavuma walked off the field early in the first session.
The South African skipper injured himself during the 20th over of the Indian innings after he won the toss and put the visitors in to bat.
Chasing the ball off a shot from Virat Kohli's bat, Bavuma managed to stop the ball but injured his left hamstring in the process. Bavuma went down and walked off the field immediately.
Bavuma had played with an injured right hamstring in the last match he played before this, the semi-final of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup against South Africa in India last month.
The skipper was sent for scans and the commentators revealed during the course of the day that he had suffered a left hamstring strain. He will continue to undergo medical evaluations and a call on his further participation in the Test will only be made later.
When Bavuma left the field, South Africa were on top with three Indian wickets down.
Led by Kagiso Rabada, the home team continued to make early inroads on day one and at the tea break, India were seven down for 176 with KL Rahul the last recognised batted in the middle.
Rabada was the pick of South Africa's seamers with a five-wicket haul, his 14th in Test cricket.