South Africa national cricket team’s 27-year-old right-arm pacer Lungi Ngidi has been ruled out of the upcoming three-match T20I series against the Indian national cricket team, dealing a major blow to the Proteas.

South Africa and India will face each other in a three-match T20I series, a three-match ODI series and a two-match Test series. The tour will begin with a three-match T20I series to be played on December 10, 12 and 14 in Durban, Gqeberha and Johannesburg.

The teams will then face each other in a three-match ODI series to be played on December 17, 19 and 21 in Johannesburg, Gqeberha and Paarl. After that, Men In Blue and the Proteas will play two test matches to conclude the series with the first test starting on December 26 in Centurion. The second and final test will be held from January 3 in Cape Town.

Meanwhile, Lungi Ngidi was included in the T20I and Test squads for the upcoming series against India. Notably, he was included in the squad only for the first two T20Is and was rested for the third T20I along with the ODI series.

Lungi Ngidi suffers sprained ankle

In an official statement issued by Cricket South Africa (CSA), it was revealed that Lungi Ngidi has suffered a left lateral ankle sprain and will miss the entire T20I series.

Due to this ankle problem, Lungi Ngidi is also doubtful for the Test series against India, but the CSA has not made any announcement regarding his availability for the red-ball series.

The 27-year-old pacer was scheduled to play the four-day round of matches from December 14 to 17 to prepare for the India Test series, but will now be evaluated by doctors and they will decide his availability for the next. matches.

Ngidi has been released from the squad and will return to his provincial team where he will undergo his rehabilitation with the Momentum Multiply Titans under the supervision of the Proteas medical team. As a replacement for Lungi Ngidi, CSA has included Western Province fast bowler Beuran Hendricks in the T20I squad.

Updated South Africa T20I squad: Aiden Markram (c), Ottniel Baartman, Matthew Breetzke, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee (1st and 2nd T20I), Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen (1st and 2nd T20I), Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Beuran Hendricks, Andile Phehlukwayo, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs and Lizad Williams

South Africa ODI team: Aiden Markram (c), Ottniel Baartman, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Mihlali Mpongwana, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Andile Phehlukwayo, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne and Lizaad Williams

South Africa Test Team: Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Dean Elgar, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Keegan Petersen, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs and Kyle Verreynne

Indian Tour of South Africa Schedule 2023-24:

Sunday 10 December – 1st T20I, Durban

Tuesday, December 12 – 2nd T20I, Gqeberha

Thursday 14 December – 3rd T20I, Johannesburg

Sunday, December 17 – 1st ODI, Johannesburg

Tuesday, December 19 – 2nd ODI, Gqeberha

Thursday, December 21 – 3rd ODI, Paarl

December 26 – December 30 – 1st test, Centurion

January 3 – January 7 – 2nd Test, Cape Town