Gujarat Titans' Kagiso Rabada Returns Home for Personal Reasons
Ahmedabad, April 03, 2025, 18:38 IST – The Gujarat Titans (GT) have confirmed that their key fast bowler, Kagiso Rabada, has unexpectedly returned to South Africa to address a personal matter. The franchise has not yet disclosed the duration of his absence, leaving uncertainty regarding his availability for upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 matches.
Background and Recent Performances
Rabada, a seasoned campaigner with experience from franchises like Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals, as well as representing South Africa in all three international formats, was last seen in action against the Mumbai Indians on March 29, 2025. He was notably absent from yesterday’s match against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. His absence represents a significant blow to GT, particularly given his invaluable experience and bowling prowess.
Replacement and Squad Options
In Rabada’s place for the Bengaluru match, Arshad Khan, a left-arm pacer, was included in the playing XI. Khan made an immediate impact, claiming the crucial wicket of Virat Kohli early in the second innings, contributing to GT’s comfortable victory by 8 wickets and 13 balls to spare.
GT possesses reasonable bench strength to mitigate Rabada’s absence. Potential replacements include fellow South African Gerald Coetzee or Afghanistan’s Karim Janat, who could also provide a boost to the middle-order batting. However, Rabada's experience and leadership will be sorely missed.
Rabada's Career Stats
Here's a summary of Kagiso Rabada's impressive career statistics:
- Tests: 327 wickets in 70 matches
- ODIs: 168 wickets in 106 matches
- T20Is: 71 wickets in 65 matches
Gujarat Titans' Current Form and Upcoming Fixture
Despite an opening-day defeat against Punjab Kings, GT has since demonstrated strong form, securing victories against Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The team is currently aiming for a hat-trick of wins when they face the Sunrisers Hyderabad in an away game on April 6, 2025 (Sunday).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Why has Kagiso Rabada returned to South Africa? Rabada has returned home due to an important personal matter.
- When will Kagiso Rabada return to the GT squad? The duration of his absence is currently unknown, and a return date has not been confirmed.
- Who will replace Kagiso Rabada in the playing XI? Potential replacements include Gerald Coetzee and Karim Janat.
- What is GT's next match? GT will play against the Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 06, 2025.
Stay tuned for the latest updates on IPL 2025, including schedules, points tables, top run-scorers (Orange Cap), and leading wicket-takers (Purple Cap).