South Africa recently registered a 2-1 win in the three-match series against India at home and now both teams will be locking horns with each other for 3 ODIs. However, before the commencement of the series, the Proteas have suffered a blow as Kagiso Rabada has opted out of the ODI series against India. A statement from CSA said that the pacer is released from the squad to manage workload and he will be recovering for the New Zealand tour scheduled next month.

In a statement regarding the same, CSA said, “Proteas seam bowler, Kagiso Rabada, has been released from the team for the Betway One-Day International (ODI) series against India due to high workloads over a sustained period of time and the need for him to recover prior the outbound Test series against New Zealand next month.”

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Kagiso Rabada has been a part of biosecure bubbles since early September when they played three ODIs and as many T20Is on the Sri Lanka tour. After that, he played eight matches for Delhi Capitals in the UAE leg of IPL 2021. There was T20 World Cup immediately after the IPL. After a break of a month and a half, Tests against India began.

South Africa will be leaving for New Zealand as the series will be commencing from February 2 where Rabada will be their key player. Marco Jansen can make his ODI debut in absence of Rabada while Lungi Ngidi will be spearheading the South Africa bowling attack.

The selectors have not announced any replacement for Kagiso Rabada but have added more cover in the all-rounders department, They have drafted George Linde in the ODIs.

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A statement confirmingthe same read, “No replacement will be brought in for [Rabada] as there is an extended squad in place in the Bio-Secure Environment (BSE), but George Linde has been retained from the Test team as an extra spin-bowling option for the series.”