Terrible news is in store for South African cricket fans as captain Temba Bavuma has left the field after suffering a hamstring injury in the first session of Day 1 of the first Test against India on Tuesday.
The injury was sustained by Bavuma in the 20th over of India's first innings when he was running after the ball while trying to save a boundary.
Bavuma pulls up with a hamstring
Virat Kohli was on strike against Marco Jansen, who bowled a full delivery outside off-stump which was driven through the covers by the former India skipper.
Bavuma gave chase and was running at full speed after the ball when he suddenly felt pain in his left hamstring. He started to hobble but still managed to collect the ball before it hit the boundary rope.
He threw the ball back to the wicketkeeper and immediately bent down while clutching the back of his thigh.
Proteas skipper limps off the field
The Proteas team physiotherapist rushed to the field to attend to Bavuma. There was a brief stoppage in play before Bavuma decided to go off the field.
The injury looked quite serious and could rule out the South African skipper from the remainder of this Test match which could spell disaster for the hosts.
India at the time of Bavuma's injury were 60 for 3 in 20 overs after Bavuma won the toss and put the visitors into bat first at the SuperSport Park in Centurion.
India take 1st session despite losing 3 quick wickets
Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada got the wicket of India captain Rohit Sharma (5) early in the day before debutant Nandre Burger further dented the opposition by sending back Yashasvi Jaiswal (17) and Shubman Gill (2) in quick succession.
But Kohli and Iyer have since steadied India's ship and ensured they went into the first break with their noses slightly ahead of the Proteas. India were 91 for 3 in 26 overs at Lunch with Kohli (33*) and Iyer (31*) adding 67 runs for the third wicket and still going strong.
