Why Will Kagiso Rabada Be Crucial For Gujarat Titans In IPL 2025?

Kagiso Rabada [Source: @T20WorldCup/X.com]

As the Gujarat Titans (GT) gear up for IPL 2025, Kagiso Rabada’s stellar form in the ongoing Champions Trophy has positioned him as a pivotal figure in their quest for redemption. The Titans, who faltered in the 2024 season, have overhauled their pace attack, with Rabada emerging as its centrepiece. 

Rabada's ability to strike early, dominate death overs, and synergize with GT’s spin arsenal could be the catalyst for the team’s resurgence. Here’s why the South African speedster will be crucial to their campaign.

1. Leading a revamped multi-dimensional pace attack

The Gujarat Titans invested heavily in their pace department at the 2025 mega-auction, roping in Kagiso Rabada, Gerald Coetzee, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna. Rabada, with 117 IPL wickets at an economy of 8.48, brings proven pedigree and leadership to this revamped unit. His partnership with Siraj and the fiery Coetzee creates a trio capable of dismantling any batting order.

Rabada’s role as the attack’s spearhead will be critical in powerplay overs, where his ability to extract bounce and movement can exploit early conditions. His recent Champions Trophy performance, marked by consistent economical bowling and keeping the opponent under pressure, underscore his readiness to shoulder this responsibility.

Kagiso Rabada's IPL stats

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2. Death overs mastery to shore up vulnerabilities

While GT’s top-heavy batting lineup raises concerns about middle-order fragility, Kagiso Rabada’s death-bowling prowess can mitigate this weakness by restricting opponents to manageable totals. His pinpoint yorkers, deceptive slower balls, and composure under pressure make him one of the IPL’s most reliable finishers with the ball.

The Titans’ pace arsenal includes Prasidh Krishna and Coetzee, both capable at the death, but Rabada’s experience in high-stakes scenarios gives him an edge. With GT’s spin duo Rashid Khan and Washington Sundar tightening the screws in the middle overs, Rabada’s ability to close out innings will be vital in neutralizing threats like dew-induced batting rampages.

3. Synergy with spin dominance to create pressure

Rashid Khan’s wizardry and Sundar’s control form the backbone of GT’s spin attack. Rabada’s early breakthroughs can force opposition batters into conservative play, allowing Rashid to exploit hesitant stroke-making in the middle overs. This tandem strategy was a masterstroke in GT’s title-winning 2022 campaign, and Rabada’s inclusion revitalizes it.

Moreover, Rabada’s versatility enables skipper Shubman Gill to deploy him in short, impactful bursts, preserving his effectiveness for crunch moments. His presence also eases the burden on emerging talents like Coetzee and Karim Janat, fostering a balanced attack that adapts to diverse conditions amidst the various IPL pitches.

How GT can best use Rabada?

The Gujarat Titans’ playoff hopes hinge on their ability to leverage Rabada’s form and firepower. With a fortified top order featuring Jos Buttler, Gill, and Sai Sudharsan, Rabada’s contributions with the ball will be instrumental in masking middle-order frailties and anchoring the team’s playoff push.

As IPL 2025 kicks off on March 22, all eyes will be on Rabada to transform Gujarat’s 'paper strength' into on-field dominance against the Punjab Kings, one fiery spell at a time.

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