Rabada tested positive for cocaine in January, a situation that became public in April, leading him to miss a significant portion of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Despite facing this challenging moment, Rabada, 30, remains second in the ICC Men’s Test bowlers’ rankings. Captain Temba Bavuma expressed strong support for the fast bowler, who justified that trust by claiming crucial wickets of Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green during the first session of the high-stakes match.
“It’s definitely a motivation. It’s been a couple of weeks now that everything has unfolded,” Bavuma stated during a press conference on Tuesday.
“He had a conversation with the team and allowed himself to be open for questions from any of the players. As far as we are concerned, that’s somewhat behind us; we are fully focused on what we need to accomplish.
“I believe he’s in the best shape he’s ever been. Facing the Australians adds extra motivation for him. He is in a very good space.”
Rabada is leading the bowling attack in the grand finale along with Marco Jansen, while Lungi Ngidi has been included in the playing XI, taking the place of the experienced Dane Paterson. Paterson has been in contention for the spot due to his experience with English conditions from previous first-class matches.
“This was probably one of the tougher decisions we’ve had to make. It was more about tactical considerations; Lungi brings a bit more pace,” Bavuma explained.
The Proteas have also promoted all-rounder Wiaan Mulder to the vital No. 3 batting position. This is their first appearance in the WTC final, while Australia is looking to defend their title after winning the final against India in 2023.
“He’s relatively young for that position, but having witnessed his growth over the past two years in red-ball cricket, it’s about instilling more confidence in him, backing him, and letting him play to his strengths,” Bavuma added.
South African team: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma (captain), Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi,
First Published: Jun 11, 2025 5:42 PM IST
