Speaking at a Rado event in Cape Town, the Proteas fast bowler named India great Virat Kohli as his toughest opponent.
“Easy. Virat Kohli,” Rabada said when asked which batsman had made him work the hardest.
“He’s the most stubborn player I’ve ever played against. He just never says die. Never, never says die. He’s phenomenal.”
Rabada and Kohli have produced several memorable battles across international and franchise cricket.
Both are fierce competitors who rarely take a backward step, making their individual contest one of the most compelling rivalries of the modern era.
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Kohli’s patience, intensity and determination have forced Rabada to dig deep whenever the pair have crossed paths. The South African, however, has also enjoyed success against the Indian superstar.
Their battle has often extended beyond pure skill. Rabada’s pace and aggression have been matched by Kohli’s refusal to surrender his wicket, regardless of the match situation.
That stubbornness is exactly what has earned Kohli the respect of the Proteas spearhead.
Rabada also explained that the most challenging moments of his own career have demanded greater honesty, creativity and mental strength.
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“When things are going well, it’s easy to be motivated,” he said. “But when things aren’t going well and you’re confused, that’s when it demands the most from you.
“You have to ask yourself: What do I want to do and how do I want to achieve it? Then you figure it out.”
For Rabada, elite performance is built during those uncertain periods. The journey can be strenuous and filled with ups and downs, but working through them makes the eventual reward even sweeter.
It is an approach he appears to share with Kohli, even if the Indian’s relentless resistance has made him one of Rabada’s most frustrating opponents.
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
