Mumbai: Speaking exclusively on Star Sports, South African pacer Kagiso Rabada shared his excitement ahead of the ICC WTC final:
“It’s the ultimate setting, especially at Lord’s – a brilliant venue. We’re up against a strong team, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. It’ll be very special—especially with this South African team. It’s a very inexperienced side, but we’ve performed much better than expected. We have a lot of belief. There’s always a sense of responsibility. Right from the day I started playing for South Africa, I’ve always felt that responsibility—to do my part in helping the team win games.”
Rabada also pointed out the challenge of playing in unfamiliar English conditions with the Duke ball, noting Australia’s slight edge in experience:
“It’s different here—we’re playing with the Duke ball at Lord’s, and these aren’t home conditions for either side. That said, they do have slightly more experience in these conditions than we do.”
Rabada highlighted the unpredictability of a neutral venue and stressed the importance of dismissing top players early in such conditions:
“It’s a completely neutral venue, so it’s tough to predict what might unfold. But when you’re up against the best players in these conditions, getting them out becomes a clear priority.”
Rabada talked about his mindset and strategy against opposition batters, emphasizing execution and simplicity over complexity:
“Every batter you face, you want to dismiss. I suppose I’ve just had the upper hand so far. We have specific plans for each of their batsmen, but ultimately it’s about keeping things simple – that’s what this game comes down to.”
Links to the videos: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKr6qVEBO2g/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKsArUvhGuS/?igsh=cXNtd3E5cW1mcDl3
Catch Day 1 of the Ultimate Test — Australia vs South Africa in the ICC WTC Final, today at 3:00 PM, live and exclusive on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network
