Kagiso Rabada has experienced a dramatic turnaround over the past 12 months, moving from a suspension in early 2025 to becoming a key performer for South Africa and Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026.
After serving a one-month ban for cocaine use that ruled him out of much of last year’s IPL, Rabada returned swiftly to international cricket and played a role in South Africa’s World Test Championship triumph in June 2025.
Learning from Setbacks
Reflecting on that period, Rabada spoke about how the experience reshaped his perspective.
“What I learned from that is not to take people’s opinion seriously. Not to take the world, not to take things too seriously. Sometimes things are blown out of proportion. Sometimes things just get hyped out of proportion,” Rabada told PTI.
“The things that really matter to you. All of those people who are close to you. How you feel about yourself. That’s really what I learned in a nutshell. That you’re not going to make everyone happy. And that you shouldn’t try to make everyone happy. Just remember who you are,” he said.
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Strong Return Across Formats
The 30-year-old is now closing in on 600 international wickets and has regained rhythm across formats. He missed the away Test series against India in December due to a rib injury, but has otherwise remained a central figure in South Africa’s setup.
He has also been in strong form in IPL 2026, regularly touching speeds of 150 kmph and currently sitting among the leading wicket-takers with 21 wickets.
Managing Workload in a Busy Calendar
Rabada acknowledged the challenges of maintaining fitness and performance across formats amid an increasingly crowded cricket calendar.
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“Yes, my body is feeling pretty decent, I must say. Touchwood. Continuing to try and stay on top of things, not letting things build up and cause unnecessary headaches in the future. It’s just about not taking things for granted and that’s what I’m trying to do.
“There’s no real change in fitness regime. Just when you get older you have to work a lot more on smaller things. I’ve always been someone who works really hard,” he said.
Prioritising International Commitments
With multiple tournaments ahead, including a home Test season against Australia and England and the 2027 ODI World Cup, Rabada has chosen to limit his involvement in franchise leagues.
“Picking and choosing, I don’t think that’s the right phrase that I would like to use. I think the right phrase I would like to use is just being wise around what I’m playing and when.”
“You’re looking at a year of planning. So there’s other leagues that we can play like MLC, the Hundred. And for me it’s sacrificing those and not playing those to get ready for international cricket,” Rabada added.
Rabada’s journey over the past year highlights both the challenges and resilience required at the highest level, as he continues to balance international duties with franchise commitments.
