The Gujarat Titans (GT) assistant coach, Aashish Kapoor, has made a revelation on the availability of the premier South Africa National Cricket Team pacer Kagiso Rabada for the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.
Kagiso Rabada, who was roped in by the Gujarat Titans (GT) for a whopping INR 10.75 crore at the mega auction, returned back home after playing just two matches in IPL 2025.
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GT star Kagiso Rabada returned home due to personal reasons
Rabada featured in the matches against the Mumbai Indians and the Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League 2025 and registered bowling figures of 1 for 41 and 1 for 42.
After that, the Gujarat Titans announced that the 29-year-old will be unavailable for selection as he has left for South Africa to attend to some personal matters.
Since then, there was no update on his return to the Gujarat Titans, until recently when the assistant coach Aashish Kapoor addressed the matter while speaking to the media.
Kapoor said that they are waiting on an official update from Kagiso Rabada on his return, but are hopeful of him coming back and playing the IPL 2025 matches. He said:
“We are just waiting for him. He might return. He’s got some family, personal problems for which he’s gone. Once he’s sorted out with that, if its sorted out in time, he will be back. But we don’t know when. We are just waiting as everyone is.”
And with Rashid I think it was his back which was hurting him – Aashish Kapoor
Gujarat Titans’ star leg-spinner Rashid Khan has looked far from his best in IPL 2025, and Sai Kishore has been handling the spin duties for the team.
In IPL 2025, Rashid Khan has bowled 22 overs and picked up only four wickets at an economy rate of 9.77 and an average of 53.75. He also went wicketless in three consecutive matches against Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Talking about Rashid Khan, Aashish Kapoor, who has been working with the leg-spinner, said that the struggle with injuries forced him to make changes in his action. He said:
“As cricketers whether it is a batsman or a bowler, over a period of time when you’re doing well, you get into certain bad habits whether its batting or bowling, with your basics. And with Rashid I think it was his back which was hurting him last year where he had to do a surgery. Sometimes when you are in so much pain and you’re still playing matches, you tend to do something with your action so that your pain is less.”
He’s bowling better lengths in the last one or two games – Aashish Kapoor
Aashish Kapoor further said that Rashid Khan has been told to make a few adjustments in his bowling, which has helped him make significant improvements. He stated:
“I think there have been a few things that we spoke this year after two-three games where he needs to make a few adjustments to his front hand which was rather closed.
“It should be facing the batsman when he’s bowling. So he’s doing that now. And he’s bowling better lengths in the last one or two games. Hopefully he gets his confidence back, gets a few wickets and he’ll be the old Rashid Khan again.”
Gujarat Titans will host the Delhi Capitals in their next match of the Indian Premier League on Saturday, April 19, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
