Injured Gill, Rabada ruled out of Guwahati Test
Gill, who suffered a neck injury after facing just three balls on the second day of the first Test at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, played no further part in the game.
South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada feels that their recent success in the ICC World Test Championship Final bolsters their confidence as the focus shifts on winning more major trophies.
The Proteas broke a long drought by defeating Australia in the ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord’s earlier this year and will renew rivalries with their close rival during six white-ball contests in Australia starting with a three-game T20I series that commences in Darwin on Sunday.
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While Rabada has many fond memories from the memorable encounter at the Home of Cricket in June, South Africa’s pace spearhead wants his players to forget about their recent success and target more major victories at upcoming ICC events.
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Rabada will be part of South Africa’s title at next year’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka and is sure to still be a part of the setup when the country co-hosts the 14th edition of the 50-over World Cup alongside Zimbabwe and Namibia in 2027.
“It was kind of like a relief,” Rabada said in relation to winning the World Test Championship Final over Australia.
“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 is hoping to use the upcoming matches in Australia as preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup at the start of next year and believes taking on the Aussies will provide his side with a stern challenge.
“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,” Rabada said.
“It always feels like they get the best out of us, because they’re in our faces. And I guess we like that.”
And with Rabada now a senior member of South Africa’s attack, the right-armer is keen to help the next generation of promising fast bowlers – like teenager Kwena Maphaka – progress through the ranks in 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,” Rabada said.
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