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| Kagiso Rabada | |
|---|---|
| Name | Kagiso Rabada |
| Country | South Africa |
| Fullname | Kagiso Rabada |
| Birth date | 25 May 1995 |
| Birth place | Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa |
| Batting | Right-handed |
| Bowling | Right-arm fast |
| Role | Bowler |
| Internationalspan | 2014–present |
Kagiso Rabada is a South African international cricketer known for his pace, bounce and wicket-taking ability. Emerging from Johannesburg, he has represented South Africa national cricket team across Test, One Day International and Twenty20 formats while also playing for franchise teams in Indian Premier League, County Championship counties and other global T20 competitions. He has been a leading figure in contemporary fast bowling, earning accolades from institutions and players across International Cricket Council tournaments.
Born in Johannesburg in 1995, Rabada attended St John's College, Johannesburg where he excelled in athletics and cricket alongside contemporaries from South African schools such as Michaelhouse and King Edward VII School, Johannesburg. He progressed through provincial youth structures representing Gauteng and appearing in age-group tournaments including ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup squads where he attracted attention from scouts associated with Cricket South Africa and international counties like Nottinghamshire and Middlesex County Cricket Club. Influences included senior fast bowlers from South Africa such as Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini and Allan Donald, and coaching inputs from figures connected to Proteas development pathways.
Rabada made his domestic breakthrough with Gauteng (cricket team) and the Mashonaland-linked provincial structures before becoming a mainstay for Lions (South African cricket team) in the Sunfoil Series and Momentum One Day Cup. His franchise career expanded to the Indian Premier League where he has played for franchises like Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings, and to Big Bash League stints with teams such as Perth Scorchers and Melbourne Stars. In England he featured for Kent County Cricket Club and later for Lancashire County Cricket Club and Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club in the County Championship. Outside these, he represented franchises in tournaments including the Caribbean Premier League and the SA20. His performances in domestic four-day competitions and T20 leagues bolstered selections for national tours and major international tournaments like the ICC Cricket World Cup and ICC T20 World Cup.
Rabada debuted for the South Africa national cricket team in 2014 in both ODI and Test formats, becoming one of the youngest fast bowlers to establish himself in the senior side, and he featured on tours to Australia, England, India, and New Zealand. He rose rapidly in the ICC Test Bowling Rankings and ICC ODI Bowling Rankings, often occupying top positions alongside peers such as James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Pat Cummins and Ravindra Jadeja. He took key wickets in high-profile series including The Ashes-style encounters and bilateral Test series versus Sri Lanka national cricket team, West Indies national cricket team and Pakistan national cricket team. He was part of South African squads for ICC events including the 2019 Cricket World Cup and the 2021 ICC World Test Championship cycle, contributing match-defining spells in Tests, ODIs and T20Is.
A right-arm fast bowler, Rabada consistently clocks high speeds and generates steep bounce, drawing comparisons to legendary pacemen like Dale Steyn and Allan Donald. His skillset combines yorkers, bouncers and seam movement, enabling effectiveness with the new ball and in reverse-swing conditions seen in venues such as Lord's, Wankhede Stadium and The Oval. He has been named in ICC Test Team of the Year selections and received individual awards from Cricket South Africa and tournament organizers, sharing stages with decorated cricketers such as Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson and Joe Root. His conduct has attracted both praise and controversy, having faced disciplinary hearings before panels convened by International Cricket Council match referees alongside contemporaries like Ben Stokes and Chris Gayle.
Rabada holds numerous statistical milestones: he became one of the fastest South Africans to reach 150 Test wickets, joining an elite group with Dale Steyn and Allan Donald. In ODIs and T20s he has produced multi-wicket hauls against teams such as Australia national cricket team, England national cricket team and Pakistan national cricket team, and he recorded notable figures in bilateral series and ICC qualifiers. He has topped ICC bowling charts during ranking cycles and finished seasons among leading wicket-takers in competitions like the County Championship and the IPL. His match-winning spells include five-wicket and ten-wicket match hauls in Tests and four- to five-wicket hauls in limited-overs cricket, joining lists that feature names like Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne for milestone tallies.
Off the field, Rabada has engaged with charitable initiatives tied to organizations such as Right To Play and has participated in outreach programs in communities across Gauteng and other South African provinces, collaborating with sports development bodies like Cricket South Africa development trusts. He has connections to sporting academies and has been photographed with public figures including Nelson Mandela Foundation affiliates and celebrities from sporting circuits like AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla. His personal interests include fitness training in high-performance centres and appearances at events alongside personalities from franchises and media outlets such as ESPNcricinfo and Sky Sports.
Category:1995 births Category:Living people Category:South African cricketers