Double injury blow for South Africa in series-equalling victory as Burger and de Zorzi pick up injuries during Raipur ODI.
South Africa suffer a double injury jolt after winning the second ODI in Raipur.
Nandre Burger, a left-arm seamer from South Africa, was unable to play in the second ODI against India in Raipur due to a hamstring injury that may affect him for the remainder of the season.
Tony de Zorzi pulled up closer to the end of their chase and retired hurt for 17 following the 45th over, giving South Africa yet another injury scare.
“It didn’t look too good, to be honest – Nandre not being able to finish his overs and Tony also walking off,” captain Temba Bavuma said at the presentation. “If need be, we do have other guys waiting in the wings come Saturday.”
Burger had began his seventh over when he lost his run-up twice and appeared having trouble to land on his right leg. Before leaving the pitch, he gripped his right knee. The next five balls were bowled by Aiden Markram to finish the over.
Burger was evaluated and is still feeling soreness in his right hamstring. He will continue to be observed by South Africa’s medical staff.
In the immediate term, it hampered South Africa in this match, where Markram bowled 5.5 overs in total, and may affect team selection for the third ODI on Saturday. Burger is not in the T20I team, where Anrich Nortje will return, but if South Africa feels they need more speed, he might be called in sooner. Gerald Coetzee, who was not selected for this trip, and Kagiso Rabada, who has a rib niggle, are already absent.
Burger has a lengthy medical history, including a lower-back stress fracture that prevented him from playing from October 2024 until September of this year. He failed to play last year’s SA20 but was re-signed by the same team, Joburg Super Kings for this year’s edition for R6.3 million, and they will be depending on his availability. The competition begins on Boxing Day, in just over three weeks’ time.