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IPL 2025: Kagiso Rabada returns home in the middle of the season, no return date specified: Reports

South African cricketer Kagiso Rabada flies back home in the middle of the IPL 2025 season after missing the game for GT against RCB on Wednesday

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Kagiso Rabada flies back home to South Africa in the middle of IPL 2025 season

Kagiso Rabada flies back home to South Africa in the middle of IPL 2025 season Photograph: (X)

South African pacer Kagiso Rabada has flown back home in the middle of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. The 29-year-old wasn’t part of the Gujarat Titans (GT) side that beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by eight wickets. Mohammad Arshad Khan had replaced the pacer and dismissed Virat Kohli for seven runs. 

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The Titans put out a statement which read “Gujarat Titans pacer Kagiso Rabada has returned to South Africa from the ongoing season of the IPL due to some personal reasons. The South Africa international was a part of Gujarat Titans’ first two matches of the IPL 2025. Kagiso Rabada has returned to South Africa to deal with an important personal matter,” 

It is a huge blow for Shubman Gill and his side as Rabada is one of the best bowlers in the world. The 29-year-old had played two wickets so far for his new franchise and took two wickets. It is believed that the pacer should be back at later date but no definite timeline has been provided for his comeback. 

Gujarat Titans swat aside RCB’s challenge to win the game 

Put into bat first, RCB could score only 169 runs despite a half-century from Liam Livingstone. In reply, Shubman Gill was out early for 14 runs while Sai Sudharsan scored 49 runs with the bat to put GT firmly in command of the game. Jos Buttler stayed not out on 73 to help his side win the game with eight wickets in hand. 

Speaking at the end of the game, Buttler said “I was trying to play with lots of freedom, lots of intent.  had a few months of pretty unenjoyable cricket, so trying to make sure I'm out there giving my best, and obviously a new team, new franchise, and excited to be here”. 

Kagiso Rabada so far has played 82 games in the IPL and picked 119 wickets. The right-arm seamer began his IPL stint with Delhi where he picked 30 wickets in the 2020 season to help his side reach the finals. This was followed by a stint with Punjab where Rabada picked 41 wickets from 30 games. 

Kagiso Rabada