We often hear there’s no “I” in team, and there’s no “K” or “G” either—unless you’re talking about South Africa, where Kagiso Rabada has become the face of their men’s side. Since his debut in 2014, Rabada has played in over 60% of South Africa’s matches, a feat only surpassed by Quinton de Kock and David Miller. However, neither face the physical and mental toll of fast bowling like Rabada, who has bowled over 18,000 deliveries, more than triple any other active South African pacer.
Rabada has featured in the majority of South Africa’s matches for eight of his ten years on the team. Yet, on Tuesday, he was notably absent from the squads for upcoming ODIs and T20Is against Afghanistan and Ireland. He isn’t injured, but the team management has opted to extend the rest he began after the T20I series in the Caribbean last month. Coach Rob Walter explained the need for “rest, recovery, and conditioning” to ensure Rabada remains effective, especially with a busy schedule ahead, including the Bangladesh Test series.
Walter is determined to manage Rabada’s workload carefully, to avoid the burnout seen with other greats like Allan Donald, Jacques Kallis, and AB de Villiers. He also highlighted the importance of grooming young talent, such as Kwena Maphaka, while managing fast bowlers’ physical toll. Alongside Rabada, several key players, including de Kock, Miller, and Maharaj, were rested, creating opportunities for less experienced players to step up in the upcoming matches.
Walter emphasized the need to broaden South Africa’s player base, ensuring the team can continue to compete even when star players are absent due to injury or retirement.