The Duality of Being Kagiso Rabada, Home and Away

Kagiso Rabada, the enigmatic fast bowler, walked into a bar in Umhlanga, Durban, surrounded by a sea of enthusiastic fans. The atmosphere was electric, with the sound of music and laughter filling the air. Rabada, known for his calm demeanor, blended in seamlessly, his leonine eyes gleaming with a precise intelligence.

Earlier that day, South Africa had thrashed Sri Lanka in a Test match, with Rabada contributing 1/10 and 2/65. Despite the modest figures, he was content, knowing that he had nothing to prove to anyone. His focus was on the next opportunity, which came in the form of the WTC final against Australia at Lord's.

Rabada's journey to the top was not without its challenges. He had faced a month-long ban after testing positive for cocaine, an incident that sparked controversy and raised questions about his character. However, he had since bounced back, taking six wickets in a 10-wicket win over Pakistan at Newlands.

At Lord's, Rabada delivered a masterclass performance, dismissing five Australian batsmen for 51 runs in 15.4 overs. His haul took him past Allan Donald and into fourth place on South Africa's all-time list, behind only Dale Steyn, Shaun Pollock, and Makhaya Ntini.

When asked about surpassing Donald, Rabada remained humble, attributing his success to his desire to improve and win games for South Africa. He emphasized the importance of keeping things simple, focusing on bowling a good line and length, and not getting distracted by external factors.

Rabada's message to Lungi Ngidi, who had struggled in the previous match, was straightforward: "Just to tell him to have a good night's sleep, have a nice steak, and a nice milkshake. Watch a movie, and come back tomorrow." This is what established stars do – they lift up their teammates and help them bounce back from adversity.

Despite his impressive performance, Rabada's name is not often mentioned alongside that of Pat Cummins and Jasprit Bumrah in discussions about the best Test bowlers. This may be due to a perception that South Africa does not play as many Tests as India or Australia, or that Rabada's performances have been inconsistent. However, Rabada's ability to make batters make difficult decisions repeatedly, even on his bad days, sets him apart from his competitors.

In the end, Rabada's unassuming nature and focus on his craft may be what sets him apart from other fast bowlers. He is a true champion, and his performances on the field are a testament to his dedication and passion for the game.