South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada is amazed by his team’s capacity to bounce back from losses and “find a way to win” regardless of who is left out. Rabada missed the first Test match against India in Kolkata due to a rib surgery.
In the first Test in Kolkata, the reigning World Test Champions defeated India by 30 runs in just three days while defending a modest 123 on Sunday. They have an unassailable 1-0 lead in the two-match series after their first victory on Indian soil in 15 years.
“No matter who sits out, we can still find a way to win. (Skipper) Temba (Bavuma) has been crucial for us, but he hasn’t played every game. I haven’t played this game,” Rabada said in a video shared by Cricket South Africa.
After missing their previous two Test matches in Pakistan, where South Africa bounced back to draw the series 1-1, Bavuma returned to the starting line-up.
“That doesn’t matter. Whoever is gonna get out on the field, we believe that they can do the job,” Rabada said.
The visitors outperformed the hosts on a dry surface in Kolkata that had inconsistent bounce and turn. Rabada praised each of South Africa’s individual performances, particularly captain Bavuma’s game-winning 55 in the second innings, which gave the visiting bowlers something to fight for.
“We had a good start in the first innings with Aiden (Markram) and (Ryan) Rickelton. They set the tone. Marco (Jansen) stood up, Boschi (Corbin Bosch) stood up at crucial times. Everyone chipped in and really, that’s the hallmark of what this team is made of,” Rabada said.
Rabada had to go through several scans before the first Test, so it’s unclear if he will be available for the second Test, which starts in Guwahati from November 22.
According to Rabada, the triumph in a low-scoring thriller in Kolkata would be one of South Africa’s top three victories this season.
“(The victory is) definitely right up there. With the types of wins that we’ve had this season, it’s hard to say, because we’ve had some pretty epic wins, but this one is definitely (in the) top three,” he said.
“That was typical Test cricket (contest)… I mean, just the ebbs and flows of the game. We found ourselves on the back foot, and then somehow managed to finish on the front foot.
“It was quite nerve-wracking on the side, and I’m just itching to want to get out. I don’t know what to say. It’s just… it’s just, like, an emotional roller coaster, and I’m glad that we finished on the right side,” Rabada added.
