In the realm of cricket, the phrase "There is no 'I' in team" rings true—unless that team is South Africa, where Kagiso Rabada has become the focal point. Rabada's presence has been indispensable, featuring in 60.85% of South Africa's matches across formats since his debut in a T20I against Australia in November 2014. Only Quinton de Kock (72.75%) and David Miller (62.43%) have played a larger proportion of games during the same period. Yet, neither faces the physical and mental toll of fast bowling like Rabada does.
Rabada’s workload is staggering, with a total of 18,352 deliveries—more than three times the 5,904 delivered by Lungi Ngidi, South Africa's next most active seamer. As Rabada enters his 10th year with the team, he has been a fixture in more than half of South Africa's matches for eight of those years, and in two-thirds or more in six of those years. Remarkably, he was involved in 91.43% of games in 2016, and no one played more matches than him in 2016, 2018, and 2019.
This makes it all the more surprising that Rabada was not included in any of the three squads announced for the upcoming series against Afghanistan and Ireland, taking place in Sharjah and Abu Dhabi from September 18 to October 7. Rabada is not injured; instead, the rest he earned from the T20I series in the Caribbean last month will continue.
Rob Walter, South Africa's head coach, emphasized the need for careful management of Rabada’s workload. "Selfishly, you always want KG to be available," Walter said. "But with the non-stop cricket ahead, starting with the Bangladesh Test series next month, it's crucial that KG is at his best. Rest, recovery, and conditioning are essential for maintaining his pace and effectiveness."
Walter’s approach contrasts with the 12-week "conditioning blocks" that players like Gerald Coetzee and Marco Jansen are enduring, having been out of action since May and June. "Fast bowling takes a significant physical toll," Walter noted. "We're working on managing chronic injuries to prevent them from becoming major issues."
Another notable absentee from the squads is Quinton de Kock, who hasn’t played T20Is since June. Walter has left the door open for De Kock to return if he chooses, but for now, opportunities are given to players like Kyle Verreynne, Ryan Rickelton, and Heinrich Klaasen.
South Africa's strategy reflects a broader challenge of balancing the contributions of their star players with the need to nurture new talent. The team has consistently found talent despite lacking the depth of countries like India, England, and Australia. However, the absence of key players like De Kock, Miller, and Rabada—who collectively hold 1,140 ODI and T20I caps—highlights the transition to emerging players.
Walter's goal is to broaden the player pool, exposing potential stars to international competition. Of the 20 players named for the series, only 21-year-old Andile Simelane, who recently scored a century for South Africa Emerging XI, is uncapped. This strategy underscores Walter's commitment to integrating new talent while managing the workload of established stars.
Ultimately, the task is to balance the immediate demands of international cricket with the long-term development of players, ensuring that South Africa remains competitive while nurturing the next generation.