Will Temba Bavuma be fit for 2025 WTC Final?
South Africa Test captain Temba Bavuma has suffered another blow, as the 34-year-old has reportedly injured his elbow again, which means he’ll miss out on the final of the CSA Four-Day Series: Division 1, South Africa’s top domestic red-ball tournament. He was set to rejoin the Lions squad on Tuesday ahead of their title clash in Johannesburg on Thursday, but the injury has derailed those plans. So Let’s take a look at Will Temba Bavuma be fit for 2025 WTC Final?.
This news comes at a tricky time, with just over two months to go before South Africa face defending champions Australia in the ICC World Test Championship final in England, starting June 11. It’s a historic moment for the Proteas, as it’ll be their first-ever appearance in a WTC final.
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Bavuma’s elbow has been a recurring issue. He first fractured it back in 2022, missing out on the England tour that year. The trouble resurfaced in 2023 during an ODI against Ireland in Abu Dhabi, where he injured it again while taking a run.
While Bavuma hasn’t played competitive cricket since the Champions Trophy, he was seen with the Lions for their final league game in Bloemfontein last week—although that match was completely washed out. He had traveled to Cape Town afterward and was expected to return for the CSA final, but now that’s off the table due to his injury.
South Africa’s squad won’t feature in any international matches before the WTC final, with many players currently participating in the IPL or playing county cricket. Bavuma, who doesn’t have any overseas commitments, was banking on this final as his last game of the season. Unfortunately, that plan has now been scrapped.
Still, there’s a silver lining—Bavuma was recently included in CSA’s central contract list, signaling the board’s faith in his leadership and future contributions.
The upcoming WTC final will be the third in the competition’s history. New Zealand won the first edition in 2021, and Australia took the title in 2023. Can South Africa finally break their ICC trophy drought in 2025? Only time will tell.
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