South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, part of the Gujarat Titans squad in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, has revealed that his recent absence from the tournament was due to a provisional suspension after testing positive for a recreational drug.
In a public statement released on Friday evening, Rabada expressed remorse for the incident, stating, “I am deeply sorry to all those I have let down. I will never take the privilege of playing cricket for granted. This privilege is much larger than me and goes beyond my personal aspirations.”
According to an ESPNCricinfo report, Rabada tested positive during the SA20 league, where he represented MI Cape Town. Importantly, the drug in question was recreational in nature and not performance-enhancing.
Rabada also thanked Cricket South Africa (CSA) and the Gujarat Titans for their continued support during the challenging phase. “I couldn’t have gone through this alone,” he said, adding that he is determined not to let this moment define him.
The 29-year-old pacer has since returned to India and is expected to rejoin the Titans for the remainder of the IPL 2025 season. Captain Shubman Gill had earlier mentioned that Rabada was likely to be back in 10–12 days. The franchise had acquired him for INR 10.75 crore in the IPL mega auction held in Saudi Arabia in November 2024.
Rabada has played two matches for Gujarat Titans this season, claiming two wickets.