South African cricketer Kagiso Rabada expressed relief at returning to cricket after serving a one-month ban for recreational drug use, while stating his desire to move forward from the incident. Speaking on Saturday, May 1, ahead of the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) Final, Rabada addressed his ban period and its impact on his career.
The pacer's positive drug test and subsequent ban occurred during IPL 2025, forcing him to leave the Gujarat Titans mid-season and return to South Africa. The news became public as he was completing his ban period and rejoining the Titans, though his participation remained limited. He will be eligible to represent South Africa from June, enabling him to participate in the WTC final against Australia at Lord's from June 11 to 15.
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"I'm just glad to be playing again. The process was handled really well ... I think, as a player, and a man, people will have their different opinions. I can live with that. There are some people who would have been disappointed and to those people I'm deeply sorry ... The people closest to me are the ones I felt I let down. But life moves on. I'll never be 'Mr-I-Apologise-Too-Much'. But I'll never condone that action," said the GT man as he listed the way in which he plans to move forward from the same.
The South African fast bowler confirmed ongoing communication with his national teammates about the incident. "I think I owe it to them (to talk about what happened). They're my team mates. We've come from so far. I've already spoken to them and I guess we can do so in more detail when we get together for an extended amount of time," he explained.
Rabada's return to international cricket coincides with South Africa's crucial World Test Championship Final against Australia, marking a significant opportunity for the player to resume his career at the highest level.
The pacer's positive drug test and subsequent ban occurred during IPL 2025, forcing him to leave the Gujarat Titans mid-season and return to South Africa. The news became public as he was completing his ban period and rejoining the Titans, though his participation remained limited. He will be eligible to represent South Africa from June, enabling him to participate in the WTC final against Australia at Lord's from June 11 to 15.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
"I'm just glad to be playing again. The process was handled really well ... I think, as a player, and a man, people will have their different opinions. I can live with that. There are some people who would have been disappointed and to those people I'm deeply sorry ... The people closest to me are the ones I felt I let down. But life moves on. I'll never be 'Mr-I-Apologise-Too-Much'. But I'll never condone that action," said the GT man as he listed the way in which he plans to move forward from the same.
The South African fast bowler confirmed ongoing communication with his national teammates about the incident. "I think I owe it to them (to talk about what happened). They're my team mates. We've come from so far. I've already spoken to them and I guess we can do so in more detail when we get together for an extended amount of time," he explained.
Rabada's return to international cricket coincides with South Africa's crucial World Test Championship Final against Australia, marking a significant opportunity for the player to resume his career at the highest level.
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