IPL 2025: Kagiso Rabada returns home due to personal reasons

Gujarat Titans (GT) suffered a massive blow as ace fast bowler Kagiso Rabada has left the camp due to personal reasons. The South African speedster has returned home and the franchise has not specified a date for his return to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. The franchise, in a statement, said he had left "to deal with an important personal matter". 

Rabada had played the first two matches for the Titans in the 18th edition of the cash-rich league. He picked up one wicket in the defeat to Punjab Kings and conceded 41 runs. Against Mumbai Indians, Rabada bagged the important wicket of Hardik Pandya as the 2022 champions registered a comfortable victory.

Rabada did not feature in Gujarat's third and most recent game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Wednesday, April 2. He was replaced by left-arm seamer Arshad Khan, who bagged the massive wicket of Virat Kohli. The Titans won the match by eight wickets to move into the top four in the early goings of IPL 2025. GT fielded only three overseas players for this clash - Jos Buttler, Rashid Khan, and Sherfane Rutherford. The latter came in as the Impact Player and forged an unbeaten 63-run partnership off 32 balls with Buttler to take the visitors across the line.

Glenn Phillips and Gerald Coetzee are the other overseas options in GT's squad. While Phillips has not played a game yet in IPL 2025, there is a cloud of uncertainty over Coetzee's fitness.

What's next for Gujarat Titans?

Gujarat lost their first game but have bounced back emphatically with two convincing wins. They are placed fourth in the points table behind RCB, Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals.

Also Read: 'Don't want matches to be too lopsided' - Sanjay Bangar backs BCCI's role in IPL pitch preparation

Titans will be seen in action on Sunday, April 6, as they take on last year's finalist Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. The Titans have an impressive head-to-head record against Sunrisers with three wins in five meetings.