In addition to serving a one-month sentence for admitting to testing positive for recreational drug use, Kagiso Rabada must now return to the top ranks of cricket, where he will face additional repercussions. As he gets ready for South Africa’s World Test Championship (WTC) final, he must face the media, put up with anything the opposition throws at him, and settle the score with his country’s teammates, if necessary.
In his first interview with the media after the incident, Kasigo Rabada stated as he departed for London that he was taking all of these assignments seriously. Rabada stated, “I think I owe it to them [to talk about what happened] – they’re my team-mates,” in reference to discussing his suspension with the team. You know, we’ve come a long way, and I owe it to my closest friends and family.
“Look, things are not going well right now. Here, I don’t need a lot of pats on the back. I will be joining them once more. I’ve already spoken with them, and I suppose we can discuss this further when we have more time together.”
Before the details of his misdemeanours were revealed, Rabada had taken a plane home from the IPL 2025 in late March for alleged “personal reasons” after testing positive for ecstasy, cocaine, heroin, or cannabis, according to the South African Institute of Drug-Free Sport’s rule. After his suspension ended, he went back to India to play two more games with the Gujarat Titans (GT).
Rabada tested positive in January during the SA20 league, but he did not publicly reveal the circumstances surrounding his use of the prohibited substance.
“It led me to a bit of introspection about myself, and I took some time away from the game,” said the player. “I believe the most important lesson I learnt from it was to be thankful for the game we love. I’m just happy to be playing once more. The procedure was managed quite effectively.
Rabada is believed to have received a lighter sentence as a result of his admission of guilt.
“The decision to come back early [from the IPL] was brilliant, and that’s a decision that I made,” Rabada stated. “Coming home was the wisest course of action, and I was in good hands, even though I could have tried to argue and everything. The entire procedure went smoothly because of everyone that was involved.
“As a guy and a player, I believe that individuals will have differing views. That’s fine with me.”
Despite apologising to supporters in a statement, he expressed his excitement about simply playing cricket for South Africa once more.
Some individuals would have been disappointed, as you can see from my statement. And I sincerely apologise to those individuals,” Rabada added. “I felt like I let the people closest to me down.
However, life goes on. I will always be ‘Mr-I-Apologise’. However, I will never support that behaviour.
India
