IND vs SA: Can Kagiso Rabada Hold Up Till 400 Wickets? - Makhaya Ntini Slams SA's Lack Of Tests

South African pacer Kagiso Rabada was the biggest headache for the Indian batsmen on Day 1 of the first Test of the two-match series. Rabada picked up a five-wicket haul and reduced India to 208/8 at stumps on the first day. However, Indian batsman KL Rahul played an unbeaten 70-run knock and helped India reach a stable situation at the end of the day.

Kagiso Rabada ended Day 1 of the Centurion Test with figures of 5/44 in 17 overs and removed big Indian names such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ravichandran Ashwin and Shardul Thakur. While Rabada helped South Africa take a lead on Day 1 of the first Test, former South African pacer Makhaya Ntini has slammed Cricket South Africa.

Kagiso Rabada is already up there – Makhaya Ntini slams South Africa Cricket

Kagiso Rabada has been one of the premier pacers of the South African cricket team after Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, and Vernon Philander. Rabada currently has 285 Test wickets and can reach more than 400 Test wickets.

While speaking PTI, Makhaya Ntini, who has himself picked 390 Test wickets came out hard as South Africa Cricket and asked how will Kagiso Rabada complete 400 Test wickets if the Proteas only play 2 Tests in a year.

Makhaya Ntini said, “He is already up there (among greats). When you talk about those guys, when you talk about those bowlers, they have passed the 400-mark and KG (Rabada) is chasing the 300-mark. But we have got a massive problem. You are playing two Test matches a year and what is that? Do you think this guy (Rabada) can hold up till he gets to that milestone.”

“It’s not going to be easy for the nature of games (number of matches and formats) that is being given to South Africa to play against other countries,” he said, citing the problem of Proteas playing just three Tests this year.”

The South African team has only played two Tests at home since 2022 which was against Bangladesh in 2022. South Africa since then have played many overseas games wherein they have not been able to deliver promising performances. Kagiso Rabada has pace and the bounce of the South African wickets also makes him more lethal.

Shifting to the key highlights of Day 1 of the first IND vs SA Test match, the Indian team lost 3 wickets in the first session for a score of 91 runs. India lost the likes of skipper Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer tried to help the Indian team make a comeback and the duo added 68 runs for the 4th wicket. The Indian team will want to make a comeback on Day 2 of the first Test match and will want to continue from 208/8. The Indian bowlers can prove too difficult for the Proteas once they come out to bat in their first innings.