AUS vs SA 2025: Kagiso Rabada urges Proteas to move on from WTC triumph, eyes T20 World Cup glory
“It was kind of like a relief. But the show moves on, and moving toward the T20 World Cup, I guess the approach will be a bit different," said Rabada.
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South African pacer Kagiso Rabada has urged his teammates to move on from their ICC World Test Championship Final triumph and focus on winning more trophies. The Proteas defeated Australia in the WTC Final at Lord’s earlier this year and will now face the Men in Yellow in a six-match white-ball series in Down Under. The tour begins with a three-match T20I series starting in Darwin on Sunday.
Rabada wants his players to put their recent success behind them and set their sights on securing more major victories at upcoming ICC events. The right-arm pacer is determined to play a key role in South Africa’s campaign at next year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. He is also expected to remain a vital part of the squad when the country co-hosts the 14th edition of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup alongside Zimbabwe and Namibia in 2027.
“It was kind of like a relief. But the show moves on, and moving toward the T20 World Cup, I guess the approach will be a bit different. Now there’s no fear of anything,” Rabada said as quoted by ICC.
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The 30-year-old hopes to use the upcoming series in Australia as valuable preparation for next year’s T20 World Cup and believes facing the Aussies will offer his side a stern test.
"The rivalry between Australia and South Africa has always been something to behold. It's always some hard cricket being played ... whenever we play Australia. It always feels like they get the best out of us, because they're in our faces. And I guess we like that,” said Rabada.
Now a senior member of South Africa’s attack, Rabada is eager to mentor the next generation of fast bowlers, including teenage sensation Kwena Maphaka, and help them rise through the ranks of international cricket.
“Yeah, I'd like to do that for quite a lot of the players. From my point of view, (I feel) that I'm obliged to almost take them under extra care. But I think he's going to learn from his own experiences as well and from his own journey. And we're just there to be a sounding board," he added.