Unfixable blow for South Africa! Kagiso Rabada doubtful for T20 World Cup 2026 - Reports

Kagiso Rabada last played cricket in October 2025 against Pakistan and missed India series due to a rib injury.

South Africa’s lead pacer Kagiso Rabada is running against time to get fit for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Rabada suffered a rib injury ahead of the India Test series recently, and was ruled out of both the Tests and the ODI and T20I series that followed. While Proteas won the Test series 2-0, they lost the ODI series 1-2 and the T20I series 1-3.

Meanwhile, concerns for Kagiso Rabada’s fitness have grown serious after the pacer missed the SA20 2025-26 opener for MI Cape Town against the Durban Super Giants. Rabada is scheduled to miss the second match as well as the SA20 2025–26 opening match between Durban’s Super Giants and the reigning champions, MI Cape Town.

According to MICT captain Rashid Khan, the team is still “hopeful” that Rabada will be well in time for their third game on December 31.

This concern for Kagiso Rabada’s injury issue has been keenly observed by the South Africa selectors, as they need to name the South Africa squad for the T20 World Cup 2026 by January 2nd. Notably, the prestigious Twenty20 event will be held from February 7.

Kagiso Rabada races against time to get fit in time for the T20 World Cup 2026

According to ESPNCricinfo, one of South Africa’s top bowlers, Kagiso Rabada, is currently running out of time to convince the selectors that he is healthy.  

In October, Rabada played two Test matches against Pakistan and claimed four wickets in his final cricket match. But since then, his rib stress injury has prevented him from participating in the India tour.  

Rabada has only played nine games for South Africa in the last six months, which is why the selectors are anxious because Kagiso’s absence will hurt the Proteas’ hopes of winning their first T20 World Cup.

Rabada is almost expected to spearhead the South African attack if he is cleared, but any unanswered questions might bring back memories of the 2019 ODI World Cup, when South Africa took advantage of an ailing Dale Steyn and replaced him without his playing in a single game.

Compared to Steyn’s shoulder injury that ended his career, Rabada’s ache seems much less serious. He spent a lot of time with MI Cape Town bowling coach Mitchell McClenaghan and was observed bowling without any obvious difficulty during practice at Newlands prior to the SA20 opener.

Rabada added that he felt “fine” when he filled in for Rashid Khan at the captain’s earlier-week press conference.

For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.