Kagiso Rabada, South Africa’s most exciting talent and their top bowler is keen to live dangerously. He is still pumped up from the team’s historic win against Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) final. A month later, the South African cricket team were victors in a historic match at Lord’s. Rabada and his cricketing comrades earned the right to display the ICC Test Championship Mace.
South Africa will face Australia in three Twenty20 matches and three one-day internationals, starting this Sunday in Darwin. Rabada seemed to say it with conviction, asserting that they have “naught to be afraid of” after their victory over Australia in the Test series. This confidence is a world away from the previous five years where the fear of failure was the biggest demon.
Rabada reflected on the WTC final, stating, “I think it was special, and I’ve done so many interviews on that since.” Perhaps more significantly, he emphasized that it was time to change the conversation away from past accomplishments. “I think it’s time to move on. I don’t think we’ll forget about that ever as a team, and South Africa won’t ever forget, but time to move on now,” he asserted.
Rabada, now 30 years old, has not played a competitive game since the WTC final. He’s mad as hell and looking to lead South Africa’s charge to dethrone their foes. Walsh is of the opinion that their best self is brought out when competing against a side in Australia. Any time we play Australia, I feel like they bring out the best in us a lot because they’re always kind of right there in our space. I think we’re okay with that,” he continued.
Rabada echoed the sentiment that playing against a formidable opponent like Australia is unmatched in terms of experience. This move will pay huge dividends to the young guns on their roster. He’s hopeful that this new series will be a tremendous educational experience and a unique opportunity.
Reflecting on the team’s mindset, he stated, “Now, you know, there’s no fear of anything.” That confidence may well be key as they head toward the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean later this year. Rabada suggested that their mindset would be altered as they go about preparing for perhaps the most royal cricket tournament going. “It was kind of like a relief. But as usual, the show goes on! As we prepared for the T20 World Cup, he said, this time we’ll do things differently.
