IPL 2024: Kagiso Rabada returns to South Africa due to an injury
South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada has returned home from the IPL after he got an infection in the soft tissue of a lower limb.
South Africa Cricket has confirmed Rabada’s departure in a press release saying that the pacer consulted a specialist on arrival and is closely being monitored by South Africa Cricket’s medical personnel.
The board has also confirmed that his injury is not serious and the bowler will be fit in time and available for the ICC T20 World Cup in June.
Initially, Brad Haddin assistant coach of Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Tuesday in a press conference in Guwahati confirmed Rabada’s unavailability. Haddin confirmed that the pacer has been ruled out of IPL 2024’s remaining matches and will return home.
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Haddin also said that with the departure of Rabada, there are going to be changes in the playing XI of PBKS and the team and management will meet later to finalize the players the squad will go with.
He added that the next game of PBKS is going to be about going out on the field and expressing full intent as the team is out of the tournament but it is still an opportunity for the team, especially the young ones, to develop their game.
Rabada, in this edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), has bagged 11 wickets and was one of the top performers for his franchise.
This is another blow for Punjab Kings as their all-rounder Liam Livingstone also departed from the league early due to a knee injury.
Haddin confirmed that Livingstone’s replacement will also be discussed in the meeting and the team will come up with a suitable player to replace the two.
The English players are also slowly making their departure from the IPL ahead of the T20 World Cup and the Pakistan series before the World Cup.
The entirety of the English squad will meet up in Leeds ahead of the first T20I against Pakistan on May 22 at Headingley. The two teams will play four T20Is before the World Cup in June.
