Kagiso Rabada will sit out South Africa’s three-match ODI series against Australia next month while recovering from a hamstring injury, with his participation in the upcoming Test series still uncertain. The fast bowler sustained the injury ten days ago and has approximately six weeks to regain full fitness for the first Test, which begins on October 9.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) confirmed Rabada will miss at least the next four-and-a-half weeks of action. The all-rounder is also not included in the T20I squad currently touring Namibia for a tri-series and three ODIs.
“A hamstring injury requires careful management, and Kagiso is progressing through the initial phases of his rehabilitation under the close supervision of our medical team,” CSA stated in an official announcement. “His availability for the upcoming Test series against Australia will depend on his recovery progress. A final selection decision will be made closer to the match dates.”
Recent reports from South African publication Rapport suggested Rabada might miss all three Tests due to a reported grade-three hamstring tear, allegedly diagnosed by former Springbok bowling coach Allan Donald. However, CSA has not confirmed these specific injury details, and Donald has not been directly involved in the medical assessment nor communicated his findings to the governing body.
The timing poses challenges for South Africa’s preparations, particularly given Rabada’s importance to their red-ball bowling attack. Following his standout performance with nine wickets in the 2025 World Test Championship final against Australia, the pacer remains central to their title defense strategy. His absence serves as a pre-season concern ahead of what promises to be a demanding calendar.
While Rabada recovers, South Africa can draw confidence from their depth options. Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kwena Maphaka, Dane Paterson, and Wiaan Mulder are expected to lead the bowling attack, with Anrich Nortje potentially returning from the Excellence T20 Penalty League (ETPL) in unfamiliar territory. Nortje, who hasn’t represented South Africa in Tests since March 2023, was previously linked to the 2025 Pakistan series before withdrawing due to injury. Young talent Gerald Coetzee, currently excelling with South Africa A against Bangladesh A in an unofficial Test format, also remains an option as the squad manages their bowling resources during this challenging period.
