Kagiso Rabada terms Virat Kohli’s on-field behaviour ‘immature’

India are scheduled to take on South Africa in the ongoing World Cup on June 5 and the war of words have begun already. While the Proteas will be facing Bangladesh on Sunday, the excitement about their encounter against India has reached to its peak. No wonder, it will be a close face-off and to fire things up, South Africa’s premier pacer Kagiso Rabada has called Virat Kohli’s behaviour on the field as ‘immature’.

The duel between the two started in the Indian Premier League (IPL) this year in the game between the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and the Delhi Capitals (DC). It all started when Kohli smacked Rabada for a boundary and then involved in a bit of talk with the latter. The Indian skipper loves to have banter in the middle especially when he is batting as it gets him going but he also gives it back when the opposition player tries to disturb him.

However, Kagiso Rabada is not so happy with this behaviour from Kohli. He believes that the Indian captain gives it to the bowler but can’t take it back and termed this aspect of the cricketer as ‘immature’.

I don’t get the guy

I was just thinking about the game plan, really, but Virat, he hit me for a boundary and then he had a word. And then when you give it back to him, he gets angry. I don’t get the guy. Maybe he does it because it gets him going, but that comes across as very immature for me. He is a phenomenal player but he can’t take the abuse. But those things can’t distract you,” Kagiso Rabada said while speaking to ESPNCricinfo.

When asked about his own response when someone sledges, the pace bowler mentioned that it inspires him up to perform even better. “In fact, for me, it just wakes me up, if anything. If somebody comes at me and says, “I’m going to hit you. I’m going to clobber you. You are soft”, it wakes me up because – it’s a fight-or-flight response,” the 24-year-old added.

Kagiso Rabada might just have started a duel with his quotes and the battle will be worth watching between him and Virat Kohli when the two teams will lock horns on June 5.