South African coach warns India over return of Lungi Ngidi and Kagiso Rabada

South Africa Cricket team coach Shukri Conrad has given a warning to the Indian team over the return of Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi to the squad. The two pacers were not fit for the limited-overs series against India. Ngidi, in particular, was injured just before the T20I series against India. However, they will be playing the Boxing Day Test against India at Centurion on the 26th of December.

The two bowlers have performed well against India in the past. In the 2018 and 2021/22 series, the duo played a key role in India losing the series. Ngidi on his debut claimed a 6-wicket haul in the Test match against India. Rabada was one of the leading wicket-takers in both the tours of India against SA. The visiting side would be wary of the challenge ahead of them.

The South African coach reminded the Indian dugout of the same in the press conference before the match. Conrad said that Rabada and Ngidi would be fresh and firing against India, as he believed that coming fresh to a match is a good thing to have. “They will be fresh and firing (Rabada and Ngidi). I am always a firm believer of freshness,” said Conrad.

‘I am not bothered that they will be undercooked for the game’ – Shukri Conrad

The SA coach further said that he would have liked to see the pacers taking part in some FC matches but accepted the circumstances. “It would have been ideal had they got some mileage in the legs by playing first-class matches but that’s life. You have got to find a way. But I am not bothered that they will be undercooked for the game,” added the coach of South Africa.

Shukri revealed that the selection of the team would be done prior to the match and hoped of getting the pacers for selection for the first Test at Centurion. “KG (Rabada) and Lungi are still in the 15-member squad and available for selection. We will make that decision tomorrow. Hopefully, tomorrow morning we will have a full squad of 15 to select from,” said Conrad.