Lungi Ngidi ruled out of Sri Lanka series, Pakistan tour due to groin injury

South Africa pacer, Lungi Ngidi was last seen playing for the country in the third ODI against Ireland in October. The pacer was a bit expensive as he leaked 70 runs in nine overs without any wickets to his name. The bowler was expected to come back for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka but a medical assessment as part of his structured conditioning period has revealed bilateral proximal adductor tendinopathy.

For the unversed, adductor tendinopathy occurs near the groin area due to the workload and Ngidi being the fast bowler, it is understandable to maintain the workload. With this injury, he will not only miss the Test series against Sri Lanka, but as per the official statement for Cricket South Africa, he will not be available for the all-format tour against Pakistan. This means that the right-arm pacer will be out of action till January 2025.

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“Proteas Men’s fast bowler Lungi Ngidi has been ruled out of the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka, as well as the all-format tour against Pakistan, due to a groin injury. The 28-year-old recently underwent a medical assessment as part of his structured conditioning period, during which scans revealed bilateral proximal adductor tendinopathy. He will now begin a rehabilitation programme and is expected to return to play in January,” CSA said in a statement.

“Test captain Temba Bavuma is making positive progress in his recovery from a left elbow injury and will undergo a fitness test on Monday, 18 November to determine his availability for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, which starts in Durban on 27 November,” it added.

Here’s CSA’s latest post on ‘X’:

Speaking of Temba Bavuma, the Proteas Test captain has not played an international game since October. He was ruled out due to an elbow injury and is expecting the medical reports to get back into the action. During the second ODI against Ireland in October, he retired hut scoring 35 off 39 as he hurt his elbow while saving himself from a runout at the non-striker end.