Kagiso Rabada, a South African fast bowler, has downplayed the significance of getting 500 wickets in international cricket. He acknowledged that statistics are a measure of performance, but emphasized that his primary goal would continue to be to select many more wickets for South Africa.
On the first day of the Centurion Test against India on Tuesday, December 26, Rabada was the standout performer. After winning the toss and bowling first, he took 5/44 in 17 overs to restrict the visitors to 208/8 in 59 overs before stumps on Day 1.
Rabada entered the prestigious group of bowlers with 500 or more international scalps with his 14th five-wicket haul in Tests. But, speaking at the end of the first day of play in Centurion, he downplayed the success.
Also Read: McLean Park, Napier pitch history, and T20I records for New Zealand vs. Bangladesh 2023
You play two Test matches every year – Makhaya Ntini does not believe Rabada will surpass Steyn’s Test total
Former South African fast bowler Makhaya Ntini praised Rabada as one of the game’s all-time greats.
He believes the pacer is unlikely to surpass Dale Steyn’s Test wicket total of 439 since South Africa does not play enough Test matches in a year.
Rabada, 28, is taking part in his 61st Test match. In the format, he has 285 wickets at an average of 22.10.
Kagiso Rabada’s IPL Career
Kagiso Rabada has played 69 IPL matches so far, taking 106 wickets at an average of 20.74 and giving approximately 8.42 runs per over with a best individual statistic of 4/21.
Kagiso Rabada was purchased by the Punjab franchise in the IPL Auction 2024 for Rs 9.25 crore.
He bowled 40/2 in his last IPL encounter against Rajasthan in May 2023 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala, India.
Kagiso Rabada Statistics:
Fielding and Batting:
| Year | Matches Played | Innings Batted | Not Out | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Batting Strike Rate |
| 2023 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0* | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| 2022 | 13 | 8 | 3 | 48 | 25 | 9.60 | 111.63 |
| 2021 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 9* | 13.00 | 216.66 |
| 2020 | 17 | 8 | 4 | 56 | 15* | 14.00 | 114.28 |
| 2019 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 9 | 4.66 | 93.33 |
| 2017 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 55 | 44 | 18.33 | 85.93 |
Fielding and Bowling:
| Year | Matches Played | Innings Batted | Overs | Runs | Wickets Taken | Average | Economy Rate |
| 2023 | 6 | 2 | 23 | 232 | 7 | 33.14 | 10.09 |
| 2022 | 13 | 8 | 48 | 406 | 23 | 17.65 | 8.46 |
| 2021 | 15 | 3 | 56 | 456 | 15 | 30.40 | 8.14 |
| 2020 | 17 | 8 | 65.4 | 548 | 30 | 18.26 | 8.34 |
| 2019 | 12 | 4 | 47 | 368 | 25 | 14.72 | 7.82 |
| 2017 | 6 | 3 | 21.2 | 188 | 6 | 31.33 | 8.81 |