The domestic first-class final, which begins in Johannesburg on Thursday, will not include South Africa Test captain Temba Bavuma due to an elbow injury, according to an ESPN Cricinfo report.

Bavuma was supposed to travel from Cape Town to Johannesburg to join the Lions squad on Tuesday, but he did not show up, according to ESPNcricinfo. Late on Wednesday, the Lions learnt that Bavuma’s niggle would prevent him from playing in the game.

Notably, Bavuma’s most recent injury occurs two months before to the June World Test Championship final versus Australia, the reigning champions. The cause and degree of Bavuma’s injuries remain unknown to the Lions. Lions captain Dominic Hendricks said he was thrilled to play alongside Bavuma in the big game on Wednesday morning.

An elbow injury is not the first time Bavuma has had one. He was forced to remain on the sidelines and miss South Africa’s tour of England in 2022 due to an injury to his left elbow. He fell awkwardly during a single against Ireland in an ODI in Abu Dhabi last year, injuring the same elbow once again. He thus missed the two Test matches that South Africa played against Bangladesh.

Bavuma made a spectacular comeback after a period marred by injury, scoring two hundreds in four Test matches and four scores of fifty or more versus Sri Lanka. Despite wearing a lot of strapping on his elbow, he guided South Africa in the Champions Trophy semifinal last month.

Bavuma has not played competitive cricket since India won the Champions Trophy. He attended the Lions’ last first-class league game in Bloemfontein last week, but the rain utterly ruined the game.

There are just eight weeks remaining until South Africa faces Australia in the WTC mace final, which starts on June 11 at the storied Lord’s.