Kagiso Rabada Shines in WTC Final Despite Controversy

Rabada's Fiery Performance on Day 1

On June 11, during the World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2025 at Lord's, South African pacer Kagiso Rabada showcased his exceptional skills. Under the captaincy of Temba Bavuma, South Africa chose to bowl first and successfully dismissed Australia for 212 runs in their first innings. The pace duo of Rabada and Marco Jansen made a significant impact early on, reducing Australia to 67 for 4. A resilient partnership of 79 runs between Steve Smith (66) and Beau Webster (72) helped Australia recover slightly, but they were ultimately bowled out late in the third session.

Rabada's bowling was particularly noteworthy as he achieved his second five-wicket haul at Lord's, joining the ranks of Allan Donald and Makhaya Ntini as the only South African bowlers with multiple five-wicket hauls at this historic venue.

Rabada's Drug Ban and Its Impact

This match marked Rabada's return to international cricket following a one-month suspension due to a positive test for cocaine. The ban was revealed after he left the IPL 2025, where he played for the Gujarat Titans. Rabada later confirmed that he was serving a provisional ban for using recreational drugs.

The South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) disclosed that Rabada had benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite, in his system. The handling of his case faced scrutiny, particularly regarding the lack of transparency about the ban. Former Australian captain Tim Paine criticized the doping agency for not publicly disclosing the details of Rabada's failed drug test.

Focus on the Game Amid Controversy

Despite the surrounding controversy, Rabada remained focused and delivered a powerful performance on the grand stage. His determination to silence critics was evident as he bowled with speed, accuracy, and aggression, setting a strong tone for South Africa on Day 1.

Rabada's first wicket came from Usman Khawaja (0), who misjudged a swinging delivery, leading to a catch at second slip by David Bedingham. He followed this by dismissing Cameron Green (4), leaving Australia struggling at 16 for 2 within seven overs.

Although Rabada did not take a wicket in the second session, he played a crucial role in the third session, helping to collapse Australia's innings from 192 for 5 to 212 all out, claiming five wickets for 51 runs in 15.4 overs.

Rabada's Milestone Achievement

With this five-wicket haul, Rabada surpassed Allan Donald's record, becoming the fourth-highest wicket-taker for South Africa in Test cricket. His current tally stands at 332 wickets, which includes 17 five-wicket hauls and 14 four-wicket hauls, with an impressive average of 21.82 and an economy rate of 3.34 across 129 innings.