Kagiso Rabada suffers hamstring injury ahead of South Africa's packed home season

South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada has suffered a right hamstring injury during his winter training. However, whether the injury will affect his availability for the upcoming season is yet to be known. According to a Cricket South Africa (CSA) statement, Rabada will undergo further assessments ahead of an action-packed summer for the Proteas men's side.

South Africa’s international season begins within a week as they’re set to tour Namibia for a T20I tri-series, which will also feature Zimbabwe, and three ODIs against Namibia. However, Rabada wasn’t named in the squad for the tour to manage his workload in a packed schedule.

However, his services will be needed by the national side when they return home in September and host Australia for ODIs, followed by three Tests. Following that, South Africa have red-ball assignments against Bangladesh and England between November and January.

Rabada’s last major injury was a rib concern that ruled him out of South Africa’s Test series against India in 2025, which the Proteas went on to win 2-0. His last Test appearance came in Rawalpindi in October 2025 against Pakistan, a series which South Africa drew 1-1. Since then, Rabada has featured in the T20 World Cup 2026 and in the IPL, but did not play in either Major League Cricket or The Hundred.

Senuran Muthuswamy suffers back spasm

Meanwhile, South Africa have also been dealt a blow at A-team level, with left-arm spin-bowling allrounder Senuran Muthusamy ruled out of the first unofficial Test against Bangladesh A due to a lower-back spasm. Muthusamy was part of South Africa’s Test squad for their 2025 tour of the subcontinent and could have an important role to play as the Proteas look to defend their World Test Championship title.