Kagiso Rabada EXCLUSIVE: ‘Even a No. 10 can hit a six… there’s no real mystery in the game anymore’ | Cricket News

<p>Gujarat Titans speedster Kagiso Rabada. (Image: X/IPL)<br></p>

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) batter Nicholas Pooran is leading the six-fest carnival in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). In his three innings, the southpaw has already struck 15 sixes and is scoring runs at a strike rate of 219.76. In those three outings, Pooran has looked like he’s playing Brian Lara Cricket, a video game millennials grew up playing in the 90s and early 2000s.
He has simply looked to smack every ball out of the park. In IPL 2024, a total of 1260 sixes were hit in 74 games (average: 17.02 per match). This year, 255 sixes are already been hit in just 13 games (average of 19.61), and with the wickets being rolled out, the carnage is not going to stop anytime soon.

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To talk about the six-fest, the evolution of T20, and how with every game the balance has tilted more towards the batters, TimesofIndia.com caught up with South Africa and Gujarat Titans speedster Kagiso Rabada.
The 29-year-old spoke on a range of topics, from joining Gujarat Titans to working with franchise head coach Ashish Nehra, bowling yorkers, the new rules, and how, with time, the game is losing its mystery.
Excerpts:

Does getting acclimatised or pitch conditions still matter in T20 cricket?
What’s the point of playing if the conditions are just going to be the same?
Is cricket moving in football’s direction?
I hope not. It would take a lot out of the game. I don’t see it happening too soon, where the amount of international cricket will decline dramatically. But it’s definitely heading that way, that’s for sure. I would hope it doesn’t fully go that way. I think the way things are happening now are pretty good. But obviously, there’s money to be made by all the businessmen, so that will shape which way cricket goes. But I hope it just doesn’t become something generic.

Last season, the IPL saw an unprecedented 1260 sixes hit by batters with varying skill sets. What’s your honest reaction when you see teams scoring 250+ consistently?
If wickets become too flat, then you might as well not call it cricket. You could just call it batting. ‘Let’s go play a game of batting, guys.’ It can’t get too flat. What’s the point? It becomes way too generic. I don’t mind higher-scoring games. You need those in cricket. But if conditions are too flat too often, then what’s the fun in that? There’s no point.
Do you think the ban on saliva usage will have any impact, or will the IPL continue to be a six-fest?
You know what? Let’s wait and see.

What’s your take on the Impact Sub rule?
I think the Impact Player rule feels like a lifeline for teams. And when it comes to selecting a balanced team, I think that’s where it eliminates that challenge. It’s more like a lifeline. It does make things a bit interesting, but it takes away the gamesmanship of selecting a balanced team.
Why don’t bowlers bowl enough yorkers nowadays? Has it become a high-risk option?
100%. It’s a higher-risk, higher-reward situation. That’s how you measure it. But you have to be daring to do it. Like, talking about levelling the playing field, I think nowadays, anyone can hit a six. Even a number nine or number 10 can hit a six. Never mind a number six batting in the 16th or 17th over. There are so many stats; this guy does this, and this guy does that. There’s no real mystery in the game anymore. I guess that’s where you don’t really want to get too much of that. It’s difficult. But if it wasn’t difficult, then it would be boring. So it’s good that it’s difficult.

How has your experience with coach Ashish Nehra been so far?
He’s a belter. He’s such a rad person. Yeah, nothing really serious, gives very simple advice. Not rocket science. Just a good man, and he knows his cricket.
India’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is, Arshdeep Singh, once mentioned how playing with you for the Punjab Kings in the IPL helped him become a better bowler. You’re still 29 but already a veteran of the game.
I think when you look at the game of cricket, at its core, it’s mostly about giving what you’ve learned. Obviously, you won’t give everything, but you give what you’ve learned. And that’s the beauty about it. We’re all just cricketers trying to make it. And so, the same way that advice was given to me, if anyone asks for advice from me, I’ll give it to them. And hopefully, it works. I mean, it’s as simple as that. That’s something that the IPL has done, especially for the Indian youth.
Are you ready for the WTC final with Australia?
I think it’s going to be one hell of a showdown. And I think we have a young team that has stood up. It’s a pity that we haven’t been playing as much, where we could accelerate our learnings. But we’ve had to learn quickly, especially with some of the young guys. This will be a huge learning experience, getting into this final, playing against Australia. I don’t think it gets much better or harder than that. So that’s going to be very, very challenging. I just can’t wait for that. I think I’m itching for it. I think we can win it. But first, I must focus here. It would be nice to have two trophies in a row. Let’s go first with the IPL.