Back Issue Sidelines Kagiso Rabada from IPL 2019

The Delhi Capitals could be in big trouble in terms of their Playoffs campaign. This is because South African bowler Kagiso Rabada has picked up a back niggle. Unfortunately for the Capitals, it has brought Rabada’s IPL season to a premature end.

Now, Cricket South Africa prompted the pacer to return as a precautionary measure. Sadly for CSA, this also throws a massive spanner in the works for their 2019 World Cup preparations. To make matters worse, the opening match on May 30 pits South Africa against hosts England.

To his credit, Rabada has been the leading wicket-taker of IPL 2019 with 25 wicket in 12 games. Following Delhi’s game against Royal Challengers Bangalore he complained of discomfort. As a result, he missed the clash with the Chennai Super Kings to undergo scans on his back.

Later on, the Capitals shared the results with Cricket South Africa and the board advised Kagiso Rabada that the best course of action was for him to return home. So now, Kagiso Rabada will be out for the rest of the season.

In a press release by the Capitals, a disappointed Kagiso Rabada admitted, “It is indeed very hard for me to leave the Delhi Capitals at this stage of the tournament. But with the World Cup just a month away, a collective decision has been made for me in this regard. It’s been a tremendous season for me with the Delhi Capitals, both on and off the field, and I truly believe that our team can win the trophy.”

Needless to say, South Africa are also in trouble as Kagiso Rabada is among the long line of injured players. The 23-year old joins the likes of Dale Steyn, Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje on the sidelines. Ngidi and Nortje were out of action before IPL 2019 began. Steyn was a last minute call up but a shoulder injury cut short his IPL stint.