Rabada Vows to End Proteas' Subcontinent Drought: "We Want to Go There and Win"

As of 2025-10-12, Proteas fast bowler Kagiso Rabada is determined to lead his team to their first Test series wins in Pakistan and India in over a decade. Rabada, who was just four years old when the Proteas last won a Test series in India in 2000, is now the spearhead of the South African bowling attack.

Reflecting on the Proteas' past struggles in the subcontinent, Rabada acknowledges that the team has yet to win a single Test, let alone a series, in either Pakistan or India since his debut a decade ago. However, this disappointment now fuels his desire to be successful on the upcoming tours, as he declares, "We want to go there and win."

Rabada's personal journey has also been marked by a drug scandal that threatened to derail his career. But his performance in the recent World Test Championship Final, which he called the Proteas' "Long Walk to Freedom," has solidified his status as a genuine legend of the game. Now, he feels a personal responsibility to help the Proteas defend the coveted WTC mace, starting with the first Test against Pakistan on Sunday.

With the absence of his longtime new-ball partner Lungi Ngidi, Rabada will shoulder an even greater burden. However, he believes he has gained enough experience over the years to adapt his strategies and be successful on the subcontinent pitches, where the ball movement is limited compared to home conditions.