Kagiso Rabada’s world continues to change faster than even the young paceman can deliver the ball. Considering he has the ability to fire it in at speeds in excess of 150km/h, Rabada’s world is certainly spinning.
Yesterday the 21-year-old’s talents were purchased by the Delhi Daredevils for 50 million rupees (almost R10 million) at the Indian Premier League auction.
Rabada will be making his debut in this year’s IPL after opting to sit out last season to gain some English County Championship experience with Kent. Rabada is currently on tour with the Proteas in New Zealand and remains steadfastly focused on his national team duties and declined to comment on his life-altering deal with Delhi.
He did, however, post a cryptic tweet “Success is a lousy teacher” yesterday.
Rabada joins Proteas teammates Quinton de Kock‚ JP Duminy and Chris Morris at Delhi, who are coached by former South African mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton.
The youngster will also share a dressing room with England opening batsman Sam Billings and Australian quickie Pat Cummins. Billings was really excited that the pace-bowling duo would be on the same side as him.
“Great news! Welcome lads @KagisoRabada25 @patcummins30 looking forward to facing you two in the nets…”, Billings posted on Twitter.
Rabada’s good fortune, though, was in contrast to eight other South Africans, including Imran Tahir, who all went unsold yesterday. Tahir played for Delhi last season but was released this year.
Proteas fast bowler Dale Steyn, who will not be in action at this year’s IPL due to injury, had soothing words for Tahir, Farhaan Behardien‚ Wayne Parnell, Andile Phehlukwayo and Dwayne Pretorius. Kyle Abbott was also rejected.
“Plenty hours spent on strategies going into IPL auction & interesting watching it unfold. Always tough for those not bought ... Stay strong!” Steyn tweeted yesterday.
The Proteas team management are expected to call back its players from the IPL on May 7 in preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy in England. Considering there would still be a week left of the league stages and still the all-important playoffs to come, it could have influenced the buyers to steer clear from the rest of the South Africans.
Coach Russell Domingo and physiotherapist Brendon Jackson will be wary of Rabada’s workload, as he will be playing non-stop cricket until the end of August.
England’s Ben Stokes was the most expensive signing, the all-rounder securing a whopping $2.16m deal with the Rising Pune Super Giants. Fellow Englishman Tymal Mills was the next most expensive player, with the left-arm fast bowler being signed for the equivalent of $1.8m.