Kagiso Rabada: “We have patriotic fans we are definitely going to miss”

Proteas fast bowler, Kagiso Rabada, emphasised that the team will miss the fans who give them an extra drive to perform, but reiterated that they are still highly motivated to test their skills against the best.

Proteas fast bowler, Kagiso Rabada, emerging as the highest wicket-taker in the IPL, is ready to “come back and do the same thing every day,” for the Proteas.

Rabada emphasized the importance of repeating performances.

“Sometimes you hit a purple patch,” he said, “But most of the time you’re scrapping.”

With that said, it is not overwhelming to play against England, but the Proteas will give them due respect.

Asked numerous questions about the IPL, Rabada reflected on the competitiveness of the competition. The points table illustrated how tight the competition was this season.

Although the IPL was played in empty stadiums, and players are cognizant of the “extra drama” and “theatre” that crowds provide, players are still determined to prove their mettle against the best players in the world on the big stage.

While comparing the IPL with international cricket, Rabada said the IPL had an element of fun, with the “superstardom hype,” significant media presence, and meet and greets, whereas international cricket tends to be more serious.

Although he played against a number of key England players at the IPL, Rabada does not consider it to be an advantage because the Proteas and England have played each other regularly in the international arena.

Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Jofra Archer, and Mark Wood have been touted as some of the brightest fast bowling talents in world cricket.

While he recognizes that the series may be perceived as a battle between the fast bowlers of South Africa and England, it will a battle between all departments.

Always striving to learn from other fast bowlers and deriving joy from their accomplishments, Rabada showered praise on Archer and Wood, calling them “world-class bowlers.”

Having played in a bio-secure environment at the IPL, with the series against England only four days away, Rabada was mindful of the challenges posed by playing in bubbles.

Describing bubbles as “luxury prisons,” Rabada said it was also important for players to be grateful for the opportunity to play cricket and earn money at a time when people are losing their jobs.

Through the lockdown, Rabada played his part in spreading social messages through podcasts, recognizing his responsibility to “say and do the right thing.”

The Kagiso Rabada Foundation, aiming to nurture talent in academics and sports by providing them with access to the right products and facilities, hopes to “ignite potential” of talented children.

Workload management has been a hot topic of discussion in South African cricket, particularly with respect to the fast bowlers. Mark Boucher, in his press conference a few days ago, stressed the importance of giving fast bowlers like Rabada regular breaks to help them perform at their best.

Throwing light on how the process would work, Rabada said the decisions to rest him would be taken in consultation with the coaches, medical team, and fitness trainer.

Finally, discussing the Black Lives Matter movement and the Proteas’ stance on taking the knee, Rabada explained that the decision is taken jointly by the team. Stating emphatically, “black lives will always matter, all lives will always matter,” he would always remain committed to the cause.

In addition to the Black Lives Matter movement, this time the team also wanted to spread the message about gender-based violence in South Africa.