South Africa will be further depleted for the second Test against Zimbabwe starting in Bulawayo on Sunday after stand-in captain Keshav Maharaj was ruled out due to a left groin strain. South Africa secured a 328-run victory in the first Test at the same venue on Tuesday, fielding only four players from their World Test Championship final-winning team against Australia at Lord’s last month. This number will drop to three, as Senuran Muthusamy replaces Maharaj. All-rounder Wiaan Mulder will lead the team as they aim for a 2-0 series victory. Why Keshav Maharaj Will Not Play 2nd Test? “The captain sustained the injury while batting on day three of the first Test on Monday. He will return home for further assessment to determine the extent of the injury,” Cricket South Africa stated. “Senuran Muthusamy has been named as his replacement, while all-rounder Wiaan Mulder will lead the side in the second Test, which begins on Saturday,” it further stated. Seamer Lungi Ngidi, who played in the WTC final, missed the first Test and was expected to join the team in Zimbabwe for the second match, but Cricket South Africa has cancelled that plan. “Fast bowler Lungi Ngidi, who was set to join the squad on Wednesday, has been released to give the seamers who performed well in the first Test another opportunity to build on their performances,” it added. Proteas left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj has been ruled out of the second Test against Zimbabwe due to a left groin strain. The captain for the series sustained the injury while batting on day three of the first Test on Monday. He will return home for further assessment to… pic.twitter.com/Kn51qpgErH — Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) July 2, 2025 The World Test Championship winners, South Africa, were in excellent form in the first Test against Zimbabwe, with centuries from Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Corbin Bosch, and Wiaan Mulder, and Codi Yusuf, Maharaj, Mulder, and Bosch among the wickets. The Proteas defeated Zimbabwe by a significant margin of 328 runs. The second Test will also be held in Bulawayo, starting from July 6. South Africa Squad for 2nd Test vs Zimbabwe: Wiaan Mulder (c), David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Corbin Bosch, Tony de Zorzi, Zubayr Hamza, Kwena Maphaka, Senuran Muthusamy, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Lesego Senokwane, Prenelan Subrayen, Kyle Verreynne, and Codi Yusuf. (With inputs from Agencies)