Kagiso-Rabada - sportstiger

Picture Credit: Twitter/@PunjabKingsIPL

South Africa fast bowler, Kagiso Rabada has joined the Punjab Kings camp in Mumbai after playing against Bangladesh in a three-game One-day International tour. Despite joining the camp in Mumbai, Rabada will not be available for the first game against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Sunday due to mandatory quarantine rules.

The news was confirmed on Punjab Kings’ social media. The franchise posted a picture captioned, "K̶G̶F̶  ??? is here! #SherSquad, swaagat nahi karoge inka? #SaddaPunjab #IPL2022 #PunjabKings #ਸਾਡਾਪੰਜਾਬ.". 

The Punjab-based franchise paid a hefty price of INR 9.25 Crore in the 2022 Indian Premier League Mega Auction in February for the Protean pacer making him the most expensive player in their squad. Rabada has been one of the top bowlers in IPL history in his young career. 

Before moving to Punjab, he was an integral part of the Delhi Capitals team that reached the final in 2020 season. He scalped 76 wickets from 50 games at an economy rate of 8.21 runs per over and an average of 20.4. 

Rabada also won the Purple Cap in the 2020 edition of the IPL where he picked 30 wickets in 17 matches. He bowled at an average of 18.26 and an economy rate of 8.34 with the best figures of 4 for 24 against the RCB. In this match, he dismissed Virat Kohli, Shivam Dube, Isuru Udana and Washington Sundar. DC won the game by 59 runs. 

In the recent ODI series against Bangladesh, he managed to take seven wickets from three games. He also won the player of the match award in the second ODI as he had figures of 5 for 39 in 10 overs with an economy of 3.9. 

Possible title push?

Punjab Kings owner Ness Wadia believes that their squad for the 2022 IPL is the best team they have had in the history of the tournament. While speaking in an interview with Hindustan Times, he said,"50% of the battle was to choose the right team, which we completed. Now it is up to the players and coaches Anil Kumble, Jonty Rhodes and Damien Martin to give us the title we have been waiting for a long time."