Reflecting on a “disappointing” 2025 season, Kagiso Rabada emphasized his transition from “desperate” to “determined” after leading Gujarat Titans to victory over Kolkata Knight Riders with a game-winning spell.
Rabada set up a five-wicket victory in Ahmedabad on Friday with figures of 3/29, his best this season, after missing a large chunk of the previous edition owing to a suspension relating to recreational drugs.
“I didn’t have a season (2025)… It is something that was really disappointing, especially being involved in such a set-up. I think Gujarat is a magnificent set-up, unbelievable,” PTI quoted Rabada telling reporters after the match.
“There is a part of me that really wants to do well for this franchise, but I don’t think you want to be desperate. There is one thing being eager and another thing being desperate. I think desperation is probably the way that you want to go about things. As always, coming into an IPL season or any game of cricket that I play, I am incredibly determined to do well for the team and for myself.”
The KKR top order was destroyed by the speed combo of Rabada (3/29) and Mohammed Siraj (2/23), who took advantage of early movement to restrict them to 180.
“…with the new ball, perhaps there was a bit more moisture and there was a bit more two-paced, a little bit of uneven bounce, so the batsmen couldn’t really throw their hands at everything, they had to really check their strokes,” Rabada said.
“That was the decision and the decision was for myself and Siraj to bowl for the entire power play and on any given day you could have them five down in that power play but we will take three down any day,” the 30-year-old South African speedster said.
“And then moving on to the middle overs and the death overs, it is just about executing a game plan that we feel is going to work based on what we have adapted or pre-planned what we wanted to do.”
Gujarat Titans moved up to fourth place on the points table with their third straight victory, although their net run rate is still only slightly above zero when compared to the higher numbers of Punjab Kings, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Rajasthan Royals.
“Look, the most important thing is to win. The net run rate is something that you want to be good but I don’t think it is something that you prioritise,” Rabada said.
“We know that we have the depth and the skill to score quicker, especially in the middle overs, but then again you have to trust the guys in the middle, you have to trust their natural games.
“This is only game number five, so there are quite a few more games left, nine games. There are a lot of games to improve that and sometimes it is just momentum, you don’t want to go into a game wanting to get your net run rate higher..”
Gujarat Titans’ prospects of making it to the playoffs have increased as a result of this victory, which has boosted their ranking in the IPL standings. For the team to succeed in the forthcoming games, Rabada’s performance will be essential. The Punjab Kings, another team fighting for a playoff berth, will be the Titans’ next opponent.
