Rabada’s bold take: ‘T20 is just batting, not cricket-where’s the balance?’

In a candid interview, South Africa's Kagiso Rabada sparked an important talk about where cricket is heading by stating, “You might as well call our sport batting and not cricket if there isn’t balance between bat and ball.” His emphasis captures an important part of the narrative the sport is gradually gravitating towards—the bias “run-scoring” phase, which is terribly disfavoring to the bowlers.

Rabada, infamous for his speed and accuracy, is convinced that the soul of cricket is fighting revolutions between bat and ball. However, bowlers today have to deal with exceedingly confident, yet inconveniently pancake-flat pitches, uninhibitedly short boundaries, and expertly crafted bats. This has been worsened by the advent of multiple T20 competitions, like the IPL, where the emphasis is largely put on boundary-filled batting shows at the expense of real bowling skill.

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He demonstrates his courage in battle during the IPL season, which is the hardest for him. Rabada debuted in 2017 with Delhi Daredevils, who have since been renamed to Capitals. Since then, he has captured 118 wickets in 81 matches with an impressive strike rate of 16.3 and an economy rate of 8.36. In 2020, he won the Purple Cap for best bowler after achieving 30 wickets in 17 games. He currently plays on the team Gujarat Titans in 2025.

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At 29, Rabada joins a chorus of purists and players condemning the diminished artistry in bowling and implores administrators to produce livelier pitches and control the gear to ensure an even match. His comments are a wake-up call, as test cricket’s essence relies on balance. Could cricket survive without it? It would definitely lose its soul. Will the authorities listen? The future is uncertain.