Ace South African pacer Kagiso Rabada has missed the SA20 2025-26 opener for MI Cape Town against the Durban Super Giants, as he is rushing against time to be fit for the T20 World Cup, which starts in February, while nursing a rib injury sustained during the India tour, according to a report in ESPNCricinfo.
Rabada missed the defending champions, MI Cape Town’s SA20 2025–26 opener against Durban’s Super Giants on Boxing Day and is all set to sit out the second game as well.
MICT skipper Rashid Khan said that the franchise remains ‘hopeful’ Rabada will be fit in time for their third match on December 31.
If that happens, Rabada will have a week, or four games, to convince South Africa’s selection convener, Patrick Moroney and head coach Shukri
Conrad that he is fit for inclusion in the 15-man T20 World Cup team, all set to be announced in the first half of January.
Should he be cleared, Rabada is almost certain to lead the South African attack, but any lingering doubts could revive memories of the 2019 ODI World Cup, when South Africa took an opportunity on an injured Dale Steyn, only to replace him without him featuring in a single match.
Rabada’s niggle appears far less severe than Steyn’s career-ending shoulder injury. He was seen bowling without any visible discomfort during practice at Newlands ahead of the SA20 opener and spent extended time with MI Cape Town bowling coach Mitchell McClenaghan.
Rabada also said that he felt ‘fine’ when he deputised for Rashid Khan at the captain’s press conference earlier in the week.
Rabada hasn’t played since October, when he featured in South Africa’s Test victory over Pakistan in Rawalpindi. He was rested for the white-ball series that followed and, although named in the Test team for India, was ruled out on the morning of the first game with a rib injury.
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