Published: Mar 09, 2019, 10:45 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 09, 2019, 10:45 PM (IST)
Kagiso Rabada reached the 100-wicket mark in one-day internationals after returning with figures of 3/43 during the second ODI against Sri Lanka at SuperSport Park in Centurion. It took the South Africa fast bowler 64 matches to reach the milestone at an average of 26.80. (ALSO READ: South Africa eye unassailable series lead against lacklustre Sri Lanka)
However, with the ICC World Cup 2019 fast approaching, Rabada feels he needs to find a way to get wickets in one-day cricket.’ “There always is (room for improvement),” Rabada said ahead of the third ODI in Durban.
“This game always finds a way to humble you. My personal desire is to keep exploring. I am an exploring kind of guy. The one area I would like to improve on in my one-day (game). I just need to find a way to get wickets in one-day cricket.”
Rabada, who is slowly, but surely, turning out to be South Africa’s strike bowler, has been in splendid form through 2018 and 2019. He’s averaged 23.28 across all formats since South Africa’s home campaign against Zimbabwe in September, but he still feels something is missing.
“I’ve felt that I’ve been struggling since Zimbabwe, and I have been finding it hard. I was finding that I wasn’t really clicking,” he said. (ALSO READ: Sometimes bowlers have to bail you out: Faf du Plessis)
“Although I was still getting wickets, it’s not the best that I’ve felt. I just felt like, at the crease, I was weak. I felt weak. You fight a lot of demons in your head, more than anything. It’s been a huge learning curve for me.
“I’ve just tried to stick my head down, and try and get back to where I was, or try and exceed where I was. I’ve learnt that this game isn’t easy, but I am happy with this (form), and I am going to try and run with it and see where I can add more.”
With sudden rise comes more expectations, and Rabada has adopted an uncomplicated approach knowing that he has to perform in every match.
“It felt like things were clicking much better than they were (in the second ODI in Centurion). I felt like I was running in better, and I didn’t really mind where the ball was going, to be honest. I just ran in,” he said.
“I have never been as free as I was in my debut game. There is expectation that comes (with his performances since), then there is a bit of pressure. But this is a pressurised environment, and you are supposed to deal with it.
“The more you play, the quicker you figure out things better. Because if ever you go through things like this, you know how to fix it. You know what to do. Some people learn it as they start playing, and some learn it at the end of their careers. So that’s the challenge for me, to see how quickly I can learn about myself.”
