15 Kagiso Rabada

A world-class speed merchant and a modern-day fast-bowling legend, Kagiso Rabada (born May 25, 1995) remains the spearhead of the South African attack. Known for his “whippy” action and the ability to consistently hit speeds above 140 kmph, Rabada has transitioned from a Purple Cap-winning IPL pacer to the central force of the Gujarat Titans (GT) bowling battery.

As of January 21, 2026, Kagiso Rabada is in the final stages of a highly successful competitive comeback. After being sidelined for 10 weeks with a rib-bone stress injury that forced him to miss the India Test tour in late 2025, he returned to action on December 31, 2025, for MI Cape Town in the SA20 2025/26 season. He has since been officially named in South Africa’s 15-man squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup, where he will lead a pace attack featuring Anrich Nortje and Marco Jansen.

Kagiso Rabada: Career Profile & 2025–26 Milestones

The Gujarat Titans “Elite” Acquisition

Secured for ₹10.75 Crore in the 2025 mega-auction, Rabada’s impact on the Titans has been immediate.

• Tactical Asset: For the upcoming IPL 2026 season, Rabada has been retained by GT. Under the leadership of Shubman Gill and the tactical guidance of Ashish Nehra, he is groomed to lead the new-ball attack alongside Mohammed Siraj and Rashid Khan.

• Purple Cap Pedigree: As a former Purple Cap winner (30 wickets in 2020), his experience at the death is viewed as the “missing piece” in GT’s quest for a second title.

International Brilliance: World Test Championship Finalist

In June 2025, Rabada played a pivotal role in South Africa’s historic run to the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final at Lord’s.

• The Milestone: During the 2024/25 cycle, he surpassed the 300-wicket mark in Test cricket, becoming the fastest South African pacer to achieve this feat in terms of balls bowled.

• The Record Holder: He currently holds the record for the fastest bowler to 100 IPL wickets, reaching the century in just 64 innings.

Recent Form & T20 World Cup 2026

Rabada enters the 2026 season in peak match rhythm:

• SA20 2026 Dominance: Currently representing MI Cape Town, he has claimed 9 wickets in 8 matches this January, proving his fitness after the rib injury.

• World Cup Spearhead: He is set to lead South Africa’s campaign at the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, which begins on February 7, 2026.

Kagiso Rabada: Consolidated IPL Statistics

Data consolidated as of January 21, 2026.

IPL Bowling Performance

IPL Batting & Fielding Records