Kagiso Rabada is a highly acclaimed South African fast bowler who has made a significant impact across all formats of international cricket since his debut in 2014. Born in Johannesburg in 1995, Rabada quickly rose to prominence, becoming a key member of South Africa’s bowling attack. His career is marked by numerous records, including being the youngest South African to achieve a 10-wicket haul in Tests and the fastest bowler by balls to reach 300 Test wickets. He has also excelled in franchise cricket, notably winning the IPL’s Purple Cap in 2020. Rabada’s pace, accuracy, and ability to generate movement have consistently placed him among the top bowlers in the world, earning him multiple ICC rankings and Cricket South Africa awards throughout his career.
Kagiso Rabada
Right-Arm Fast Bowler | South Africa National Team
Personal Information
International Career Statistics
| Format | Matches | Innings Batted | Runs Scored | Highest Score | Batting Average | 100s/50s (Bat) | Wickets | Best Bowling | Bowling Average | Economy | 5 Wickets in Innings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 70 | 106 | 1,030 | 47 | 11.97 | 0/0 | 327 | 7/112 | 22.00 | 3.35 | 16 |
| ODI | 106 | 45 | 401 | 31* | 14.85 | 0/0 | 168 | 6/16 | 27.46 | 5.08 | 2 |
| T20I | 65 | 24 | 156 | 22 | 17.33 | 0/0 | 71 | 3/18 | 27.15 | 8.30 | 0 |
Domestic & T20 League Career Statistics
| Format/League | Matches | Runs Scored | Batting Average | Wickets | Best Bowling | Bowling Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-Class | 90 | 1,254 | 11.94 | 402 | 9/33 | 22.65 |
| List A | 124 | 450 | 13.23 | 189 | 6/16 | 28.88 |
| Overall Domestic T20s | 224 | 474 | 11.02 | 278 | 5/11 | 23.61 |
| Indian Premier League (IPL) | 84 | 215 | 11.32 | 119 | 4/21 | 22.96 |
| T20 Blast (Glamorgan/Kent) | ~20 | ~50 | ~10 | ~21 | – | ~27 |
| Big Bash League (BBL) | No reported appearances | |||||
| Mzansi Super League (Jozi Stars) | Played in the inaugural edition (2018) and 2019 season. Specific batting/bowling figures not readily available for overall league performance. | |||||
Notable Domestic Teams
- Gauteng
- Lions
- Kent (County Cricket)
- Delhi Capitals (IPL)
- Punjab Kings (IPL)
- Gujarat Titans (IPL) – From 2025
- Jozi Stars (Mzansi Super League)
- MI Cape Town (SA20)
- MI New York (Major League Cricket)
Note: T20 Blast and Mzansi Super League statistics are approximations based on available data, as detailed consolidated stats for all matches across these leagues are not consistently provided in available sources. His primary T20 league impact has been in the IPL.
Honours & Career Highlights
- **ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup Winner:** 2014 (South Africa)
- **ODI Debut Hat-Trick:** Became only the second player to take a hat-trick on ODI debut (vs Bangladesh, 2015).
- **Youngest South African to take a Test 10-wicket haul:** 13/144 vs England, 2016.
- **Youngest Bowler to take 150 Test Wickets:** Achieved at 23 years and 50 days.
- **Fastest Bowler (by balls) to 300 Test Wickets:** Surpassed Waqar Younis’s record.
- **ICC Test Bowler of the Year:** Topped the ICC Test and ODI bowler rankings by January 2018 (aged 22).
- **Cricket South Africa (CSA) Cricketer of the Year:** Won in 2016 and 2018 (also won Test Cricketer and ODI Cricketer of the Year in 2018).
- **Wisden’s Best Young Player in the World:** 2018.
- **IPL Purple Cap Winner:** 2020 (30 wickets for Delhi Capitals).
- **Fastest to 100 IPL Wickets:** Reached the milestone in 64 matches (April 2023).
- **Hat-tricks in all three formats of cricket:** Test, ODI, and T20I.
- **ICC T20 World Cup Runner-up:** 2024 (South Africa).
