New Zealand tour: Van Niekerk out with calf issue

Dane van Niekerk, the South African all-rounder, has been ruled out of the New Zealand tour due to a calf injury. She felt discomfort before the first T20 International and a scan confirmed the injury, which will require rehabilitation. Anneke Bosch has been called up as her replacement for the remainder of the tour. Wait, wasn't Van Niekerk already retired? It looks like she's trying to make a comeback, and now this injury is a major setback. Missing the T20 World Cup would be tough, especially with her experience of 110 ODIs, 91 T20Is, and 1 Test. And with Marizanne Kapp also out due to illness, tough times for the Van Niekerk-Kapp duo. The series in New Zealand consists of five T20Is and three ODIs, which form part of the Women's Championship. The T20Is are being played as double-headers with the men's matches, where South Africa have another injury concern. Batter Jordan Hermann is out with a hamstring injury but no replacement has been named. Dane van Niekerk's comeback story is inspiring! After retiring in March 2023, she made a brief appearance at the WPL and then joined Western Province in 2024, making a strong case for her return to international cricket. She was part of the national training camp for the 2025 ODI World Cup but didn't make the final cut. However, her perseverance paid off with a comeback in December 2025 against Ireland. Van Niekerk's injury is a setback for South Africa, especially with the T20 World Cup just around the corner. Her wife, Marizanne Kapp, is also unavailable due to illness.