GT Coach Breaks Silence On Kagiso Rabada’s Availability For IPL 2025

The Gujarat Titans’ (GT) assistant coach, Ashish Kapoor, has offered a major update on their premier pacer Kagiso Rabada’s availability for their next fixture against the Delhi Capitals. It will be an afternoon fixture at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Rabada played in the franchise's first couple of games before the GT captain, Shubman Gill, revealed that the South African fast bowler had opted out of the early stages of the competition due to personal reasons. However, the franchise has yet to name a replacement.

Ashish Kapoor provides a major update on Kagiso Rabada’s availability

Addressing the pre-match press conference, Kapoor revealed that the entire side would remain hopeful of the pacers returning in time for the latter stage of the edition. He is one of the vital members of the bowling department for the 2022 champions, who signed the fast bowler for a price of INR 10.75 crore.

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Rabada made an abysmal start in the IPL 2025, earning two wickets in two innings at an average of 41.50 and a strike rate of 24, besides an economy rate of 10.37, thanks to the best bowling figure of 1/41 in an inning.

A few days ago, GT signed the former Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka to replace injured Glenn Phillips, who has been ruled out of the tournament.

“We picked Dasun Shanaka as the replacement for Glenn Phillips. I don’t know about the replacement for Kagiso Rabada; that’s news to me. We are just waiting for him; he might return. There is a chance that he might join, but he has got some family problem, for which he has gone.” Kapoor said during the pre-match press conference.

“Once he is sorted out with that in time, he’ll be back. We don’t know when, and we’re just waiting as everyone else.” He added.

Mohammed Siraj shoulders GT’s pace bowling department

Rabada’s absence has not been a huge blow for the franchise so far in the tournament. Mohammed Siraj has carried so much responsibility in the event. The Indian pacer is currently the side’s joint leading wicket-taker with 10 scalps in six innings at an average of 20.40 and an economy rate of 8.50.

Prasidh Krishna, the lanky fast bowler, has used the pace and bounce superbly to tackle the opposition batters in the season. The Karnataka-born is the seventh leading wicket-taker of the season with 10 wickets in six innings at an economy rate of below seven.

It’s a bit surprising that GT has not chosen Gerald Coetzee in the previous games and is continuing with three or fewer overseas members in the playing eleven.

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In the spin department, Rashid Khan has struggled to find the same glory with the ball. But R Sai Kishore has contributed with 10 wickets in six innings at an average of 16.80 and an economy rate of 8.47.

GT enjoys third position in the IPL 2025 points table

GT started the 18th season of the competition with a narrow defeat by 11 runs at home against the Punjab Kings. But they made a clinical turnaround in the contest with four successive victories in the next couple of weeks.

However, they experienced their second defeat in six encounters against the Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Stadium last week. It will be another chance and challenge for the Gill-led side to demolish the Capitals to earn the top spot in the points table.