Kagiso Rabada faces provisional suspension by Cricket South Africa for using recreational drugs during SA20

Kagiso Rabada returned home after playing two games in IPL 2025.

South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada has faced a provisional suspension by Cricket South Africa (CSA). The Proteas pacer was found guilty of using a recreational drugs during South Africa’s franchise T20 league, SA20. Rabada is a member of MI Cape Town in the tournament – a sister franchise of Mumbai Indians (MI) of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Notably, Rabada is part of Gujarat Titans (GT) franchise in IPL 2025. The right-arm pacer left the tournament midway in the first week of April. GT did not reveal much about the matter and informed that Rabada left the tournament due to personal reasons. He also missed a lot of games in the tournament. Also, the Titans did not name any replacement for the pacer.

Now, Rabada has returned to India for IPL 2025. After his return, the GT pacer informed that he has faced a provisional suspension for the use of a banned substance during SA20 tournament. However, he also added that it was a recreational drug and not a performance-enhancing drug.

Deeply sorry to all those that I have let down: Kagiso Rabada

On Saturday, May 3, Rabada issued an apology to his fans for his actions in the statement. He also added he looks forward to returning to the field after the suspension.

“As has been reported, I recently returned to South Africa from participating in the IPL for personal reasons. This was due to my returning an adverse analytical finding for the use of a recreational drug,” Rabada said.

“I am deeply sorry to all those whom I have let down. I will never take the privilege of playing cricket for granted. This privilege is much larger than me. It goes beyond my personal aspirations. I am serving a provisional suspension and I am looking forward to returning to the game I love playing,” he further added in the statement.

Meanwhile, the Titans pacer only played two games in the ongoing IPL 2025 before leaving for South Africa. He picked up two wickets at an expensive economy of 10.37. He clinched one wicket each in both matches. He is expected to strengthen GT’s pace attack in the tournament in the forthcoming games.

Prasidh Krishna has done a wonderful job for the side in Rabada’s absence. He is the leading wicket-taker in the tournament and owns the Purple Cap. The Shubman Gill & Co. crushed Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by 38 runs in their last match on Friday, May 2.

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