Calcutta: The upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will be missing some of the top fast bowlers in contemporary cricket. 

After Mitchell Starc was ruled out of IPL XI a few days back, now Kagiso Rabada’s name has been added to that list.

The South African speedster, who was on the Delhi DareDevils roster, is sidelined with a lower back stress reaction and will be out of action for up to three months, a Cricket South Africa media release said on Thursday.   

“Proteas fast bowler, Kagiso Rabada, has been ruled out for up to three months with a lower back stress reaction.

Rabada felt tightness and discomfort during the fourth Test match against Australia at the Wanderers, with subsequent scans revealing the injury,” the media release said. 

Commenting on the injury, Proteas team manager, Dr Mohammed Moosajee, was quoted as saying: “Kagiso has been diagnosed with a lower back stress reaction which will rule him out of cricket action for up to three months. He will need a month’s break from all physical activity before commencing with a rehabilitation programme to get him ready for the series against Sri Lanka in July.”

Besides Rabada, Mohammed Shami and Trent Boult were the other top fast bowlers who were in the DareDevils squad. With Rabada gone, it is obvious that the DareDevils, led by Gautam Gambhir, will be a bit weakened in the bowling department.  

The 22-year-old had finished the series against Australia with a total of 23 wickets, earning him the Man of the Series award. Rabada currently holds the top spot in the bowlers’ rankings in Test cricket.

Rabada has played eight ODIs for South Africa this season and has featured in all 10 of their Tests, taking 56 wickets at an average of 16.98.

With the ODI World Cup scheduled to be held next year,  Cricket South Africa and the team management wouldn’t want to take any risk with the youngster.