Keshav Maharaj Ruled Out of Second Zimbabwe Test, Wiaan Mulder to Lead South Africa

Keshav Maharaj Ruled Out of Second Zimbabwe Test, Wiaan Mulder to Lead South Africa

South Africa will be without stand-in Test captain Keshav Maharaj for the second Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, starting July 6, after the left-arm spinner sustained a groin strain. Allrounder Wiaan Mulder has been named as the captain for the match — marking his first time leading South Africa in Test cricket.

Maharaj picked up the injury while batting on the third day of the first Test, which South Africa won convincingly by 328 runs. He had a strong individual performance in the match, claiming four wickets across both innings and scoring a crucial half-century in the second innings. Maharaj had taken over the captaincy from Temba Bavuma, who missed the match due to a hamstring strain suffered during the World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord’s.

Replacing Maharaj in the squad is fellow left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy. Fast bowler Lungi Ngidi, who was expected to rejoin the squad for the second Test, has been released.

This will be Mulder’s first time captaining in first-class cricket. The 27-year-old impressed in the opening Test with a match-winning performance, scoring a career-best 147 in the second innings and taking four wickets in the first. His only previous leadership experience came during the 2022 One Day Cup quarter-final, where he captained Leicestershire against Kent.

Maharaj was not scheduled to be part of the upcoming T20I tri-series that follows the Test series, which also includes New Zealand.

South Africa lead the two-match series 1-0 heading into the second and final Test in Bulawayo.

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