IND v SA | It’s India versus South Africa, not Virat Kohli vs me, says Kagiso Rabada
ICC’s No.2 Test bowler Kagiso Rabada feels that the focus of the India-South Africa series remains with the two teams, and not his personal duel with ICC’s No.2 Test batsman Virat Kohli. Instead, Rabada is keen to focus on succeeding in the finer details of each game, winning as many as possible.
South Africa’s pace ace, widely regarded as the one to take over the mantle from Dale Steyn, is back in India to take on the No.1 ranked Test team. However, all the news leading up to the series has touted the three-match battle as a showdown between Rabada and Kohli. However, the 24-year-old is firmly focused on taking up as much of the responsibility as possible as one of the senior members in the team.
“I don’t see it that way. It’s India versus South Africa, so I have got a responsibility and so do others in our team. We are looking to play as a unit to beat India as a team. I have played here a handful of times, so definitely I am used to the conditions. So, that insight should help me, moving forward,” Rabada told Sportstar.
“The responsibility does shift on to myself and the other players who have established themselves in the team. I have been in the team for five years now and next year, I will be stepping into the sixth — so that’s a long time. I think nothing needs to change much. It’s about realising that you are leading the team in key situations,” Rabada said.
After a disappointing World Cup campaign, where he claimed just 11 wickets from nine matches, Rabada took some time to completely detach himself from the game.
“I have done nothing in the last couple of months (laughs). It’s a work in progress now and the target is to get back to the basics and improve the mental strength in certain areas,” Rabada said.
“Just catching up with some of my endorsement activities and relaxing with family and friends. Also travelling in South Africa, seeing old friends, meeting new friends. Just sorting out a few administrative things — the other side of my life. Just being normal,” he continued.
Now as he starts fresh on a long tour of India, Rabada shed some light on what his main areas of focus will be.
“Just to take it step by step and to win 80 percent ratio and higher. Main target is to take it game by game and focus on the small details. The spinners need to bowl well and we have got some good spinners. For the seamers, we will see what type of wickets we get. Most likely it should be dry, so really try and attack the stumps and get some reverse swing,” he said.
“(On injury threat) You don’t really want to think about it much, but you just want to make sure that you keep yourself in good condition — stretching, keeping strong in the gym. Yeah, just not trying to reinvent the will but just keep ticking over. Basically that’s it — watching your loads, really!” Rabada added.
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