He might have landed in trouble for his on-field aggressive behaviour but South African speedster Kagiso Rabada says the perception that he is short-tempered is not true and it is just passion which drives him as a bowler. The 25-year-old was suspended for the series-deciding final Test against England earlier this year after collecting a fourth demerit point in a 24-month period for celebrating too close to visiting captain Joe Root after claiming his wicket in the third Test.<\/p>\n
\u201cLot of people feel like I\u2019ve a short temper. I don\u2019t think so, it\u2019s just passion. Also if you look at sledging it\u2019s part of the game. That\u2019s what every fast bowler does,\u201d Rabada said during an Instagram Live chat with his IPL franchise Delhi Capitals on Friday. \u201cThere\u2019s no fast bowler who is going to be nice to a batter. It\u2019s not like you being personal and telling people about their family or whatever.\u201d<\/p>\n
Following Rabada\u2019s suspension, South Africa went on to lose the final Test and concede the series 1-3.\u00a0 The pacer had collected two of his previous demerit points during the 2018 Test series against Australia when he had screamed into David Warner\u2019s face and brushed shoulders with Steve Smith.<\/p>\n
The third incident was when he used provocative language in sending off India\u2019s Shikhar Dhawan after dismissing him during an ODI in the same year. Rabada was also banned for accumulation of demerit points during South Africa\u2019s tour of England in 2017.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou celebrate the wicket and after the game you are going to shake the guy\u2019s hand and respect the craft. Most of the time, I\u2019m not really aggro on the field. But that\u2019s just International cricket. Every player wants to be the best. That\u2019s just the drive coming out,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs cricketers we have put in a lot of work under pressure, the grind to play for people\u2019s entertainment and also for ourselves. It\u2019s nice to see when you get results. You just don\u2019t play a game of cricket. It does not work like that.\u201d
\nThe lynchpin of South African attack said it is his emotions which makes him a dangerous bowler.<\/p>\n
Sometimes, an emotion can ignite you. And that\u2019s when I feel like I\u2019m the most dangerous because that\u2019s when I let everything loose and stop thinking and everything becomes automatic. That\u2019s for me when I bowl my best is when I\u2019m not thinking,\u201d he said. Having claimed the wicket of Virat Kohli as his maiden Test scalp in his debut at Mohali in 2015, Rabada went on to become the No 1 Test bowler in three years\u2019 time.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt feels surreal. You just keep hearing stats, you did this and that. It was pretty amazing but nothing changes. You still have another game to play,\u201d he said. \u201cYou don\u2019t think about award when you play. You just perform your craft, the awards are byproducts and can serve as motivation as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rabada said he would have loved to bowl to former greats Sir Vivian Richards and Sachin Tendulkar among others.
\n\u201cI think Kevin Pietersen, Sachin Tendulkar, Vivian Richards and Ricky Ponting would be the batsmen I would love to bowl to\u2026\u201d Having joined the franchise in 2017, Rabada was instrumental in taking Delhi to the IPL playoffs for the first time in seven years in 2019.<\/p>\n
The biggest highlight of their campaign was the Super Over win over Kolkata Knight Riders where Rabada defended 10 runs and nailed big-hitter Andre Russell with his brilliant execution of workers. \u201cI remember when I was bowling that Super Over\u2026 We had such a fantastic season but unfortunately couldn\u2019t go all the way. Off the field, by far the most enjoyable IPL I had and I thoroughly enjoyed,\u201d said Rabada, who was later ruled out because of an injury.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s pity that IPL can\u2019t happen because of a stupid virus. We hope the crowd continues to support us and we are there to entertain you guys\u2026 So it\u2019s a fair exchange,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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