CWC 2023 | South Africa player Kagiso Rabada post-match press conference
[Reporter:]
Very well bowled. You've had a controversial evening. It's not your fault. But how do you keep your focus and bowl as well as you did when all this craziness is going on around you?
Kagiso Rabada
I guess it's just about focusing on the next ball. Really, that's what it is. We just go by what decisions the umpires make and what decisions that the technology influence.
[Reporter:]
KG, when you hit Steve Smith's pad, it didn't really look like you guys were convinced just what was your initial thought and what did you think when you saw it was you know hitting [the stumps]?
Kagiso Rabada
Well, I was hoping for ‘umpires call’ I felt as if it just skidded through, didn't really bounce much. And as you know, Steve, he walks across his stumps. That's just his trigger. And it just, from my angle and from Quinny's [De Kock] angle it looked quite good and we decided to go up and yeah, I mean the technology favoured us today but I thought it was it was close I don't think it was as obvious as ‘missing’.
[Reporter:]
That wicket obviously was really important in that it opened up the middle order and you've got a bit of a history with Steve Smith. Just how important was it for you to get that and to know like, okay, we're in there now?
Kagiso Rabada
Yes, I think he was looking good. He was moving really well, you could see. And he's a key player for Australia. He really binds that team together and that batting lineup together. And he's always a key wicket in any format. But looking at one day cricket, he has the ability to occupy the crease and also score runs whilst doing so. So, he was definitely a big wicket and we knew we had to get him early.
[Reporter:]
After the Stoinis dismissal, which I think confused everybody, there seemed to be quite a lot of discussion on the field between you guys and maybe even involving the Australians. What was that about? Was there any suggestion that the appeal should be withdrawn or what was the talk about?
Kagiso Rabada
Well, I initially thought it hit his thigh pad and my teammates around me felt that they heard a woody sound. And you know, Stoinis didn't look so convincing. I think he looked as if, he felt as if he touched it. I guess the controversy was around the fact that his hand was off the bat when the ball made contact with his glove. But we thought it was the bat handle. Again, that's not up to us. We reviewed it and the umpires made a decision.
[Reporter:]
Did they want you to withdraw the appeal?
Kagiso Rabada
No, I don't think we can withdraw the appeal. That wouldn't make sense.
[Reporter:]
Did they want you to?
Kagiso Rabada
Oh no, they didn't.
[Reporter:]
This South African team have played at two venues which were considered substandard during the IPL. So, are you surprised by the quality of pitches that have come up and both the places you have built up record scores?
Kagiso Rabada
Yeah, in Delhi there was quite a decent amount of grass coverage and that certainly meant that the pitch would hold together for a longer time, which means it would stay true. And that was the case in Delhi, it was flat in Delhi.
And today, judging on how the pitches played here in the IPL, there was one that was really dry and another that looked similar to what this one was like. And the word around is that they have relayed the pitches. I don't know how they've done that, whether they've added more grass, I'm not too sure. But it certainly looks that way.
And today, under lights, it just seemed to zip that extra bit more. But the word during the day was that it was it had a bit of pace in it and a bit of bounce in it and I guess with a bit of the moisture at night it just did a bit more.
[Reporter:]
Two-pronged question. Firstly, after the Sri Lanka game there were a few people saying that even though the batting was good, the bowling conceded quite a few runs. And tonight, you guys came out and really you were clinical from the start. Was that part of the motivation? Did you guys feel that you can do better? And the second one is just why aren't you opening the bowling anymore?
Kagiso Rabada
The fact that I'm not opening the bowling was a team decision. And whoever's opening the bowling will be trusted to do so. It's a calculated decision. Any one of us can fulfil any role so it could change moving forward but for now that's the combination that we went with.
And I guess looking at every game there's always areas to improve. We were cognizant of the fact that we did slack off in certain areas in the previous game, acknowledging the fact that it was a very true wicket and a small ground. But there will always be areas to improve in the game of cricket, but we'll do our analysis and we'll see how we want to move forward.
[Reporter:]
Without putting the carriage before the horse actually, in front of the horse, do you believe that overall, this is a statement win actually for you guys, just in terms of getting momentum and going on with it and running with it?
Kagiso Rabada
We're just looking to play our best cricket whenever we play a game. We're not worried about what statements we're making. We're only worried about the plans that we want to execute.
[Reporter:]
Just on that, South Africa have done so well in these last two games that people are starting to now talk about you guys as you know one of the favourites for the semis etc. Do you feel that yet, or are you still just like flying under the radar a bit?
Kagiso Rabada
We're still a long way away but there are plenty of positives to take. So that's a good thing but we're looking to rock up the next game. Like I said, we'll see how we feel we want to improve, look at our strengths, look at our weaknesses and look to brush up. But generally, I think we played nearly the perfect game of cricket. So, it's just about leaving this behind once we leave that behind and focus on the next game, that's it.
[Reporter:]
So probably this was asked earlier, but what did you take from the Australian bowling unit there? It looked like all three of your quicks tried a lot of cutters early on into the surface?
Kagiso Rabada
Australia, has a quality bowling outfit. It's always nice to watch and they've been doing it for years, this trio. I thought they bowled really well but our batters absorbed the pressure and then transferred it when it was time to transfer the pressure. It was never going to be easy and it certainly wasn't easy for our batters. It's always a stiff, stiff challenge against Australia and we enjoy it.
[Reporter:]
Very well bowled. You've had a controversial evening. It's not your fault. But how do you keep your focus and bowl as well as you did when all this craziness is going on around you?
Kagiso Rabada
I guess it's just about focusing on the next ball. Really, that's what it is. We just go by what decisions the umpires make and what decisions that the technology influence.
[Reporter:]
KG, when you hit Steve Smith's pad, it didn't really look like you guys were convinced just what was your initial thought and what did you think when you saw it was you know hitting [the stumps]?
Kagiso Rabada
Well, I was hoping for ‘umpires call’ I felt as if it just skidded through, didn't really bounce much. And as you know, Steve, he walks across his stumps. That's just his trigger. And it just, from my angle and from Quinny's [De Kock] angle it looked quite good and we decided to go up and yeah, I mean the technology favoured us today but I thought it was it was close I don't think it was as obvious as ‘missing’.
[Reporter:]
That wicket obviously was really important in that it opened up the middle order and you've got a bit of a history with Steve Smith. Just how important was it for you to get that and to know like, okay, we're in there now?
Kagiso Rabada
Yes, I think he was looking good. He was moving really well, you could see. And he's a key player for Australia. He really binds that team together and that batting lineup together. And he's always a key wicket in any format. But looking at one day cricket, he has the ability to occupy the crease and also score runs whilst doing so. So, he was definitely a big wicket and we knew we had to get him early.
[Reporter:]
After the Stoinis dismissal, which I think confused everybody, there seemed to be quite a lot of discussion on the field between you guys and maybe even involving the Australians. What was that about? Was there any suggestion that the appeal should be withdrawn or what was the talk about?
Kagiso Rabada
Well, I initially thought it hit his thigh pad and my teammates around me felt that they heard a woody sound. And you know, Stoinis didn't look so convincing. I think he looked as if, he felt as if he touched it. I guess the controversy was around the fact that his hand was off the bat when the ball made contact with his glove. But we thought it was the bat handle. Again, that's not up to us. We reviewed it and the umpires made a decision.
[Reporter:]
Did they want you to withdraw the appeal?
Kagiso Rabada
No, I don't think we can withdraw the appeal. That wouldn't make sense.
[Reporter:]
Did they want you to?
Kagiso Rabada
Oh no, they didn't.
[Reporter:]
This South African team have played at two venues which were considered substandard during the IPL. So, are you surprised by the quality of pitches that have come up and both the places you have built up record scores?
Kagiso Rabada
Yeah, in Delhi there was quite a decent amount of grass coverage and that certainly meant that the pitch would hold together for a longer time, which means it would stay true. And that was the case in Delhi, it was flat in Delhi.
And today, judging on how the pitches played here in the IPL, there was one that was really dry and another that looked similar to what this one was like. And the word around is that they have relayed the pitches. I don't know how they've done that, whether they've added more grass, I'm not too sure. But it certainly looks that way.
And today, under lights, it just seemed to zip that extra bit more. But the word during the day was that it was it had a bit of pace in it and a bit of bounce in it and I guess with a bit of the moisture at night it just did a bit more.
[Reporter:]
Two-pronged question. Firstly, after the Sri Lanka game there were a few people saying that even though the batting was good, the bowling conceded quite a few runs. And tonight, you guys came out and really you were clinical from the start. Was that part of the motivation? Did you guys feel that you can do better? And the second one is just why aren't you opening the bowling anymore?
Kagiso Rabada
The fact that I'm not opening the bowling was a team decision. And whoever's opening the bowling will be trusted to do so. It's a calculated decision. Any one of us can fulfil any role so it could change moving forward but for now that's the combination that we went with.
And I guess looking at every game there's always areas to improve. We were cognizant of the fact that we did slack off in certain areas in the previous game, acknowledging the fact that it was a very true wicket and a small ground. But there will always be areas to improve in the game of cricket, but we'll do our analysis and we'll see how we want to move forward.
[Reporter:]
Without putting the carriage before the horse actually, in front of the horse, do you believe that overall, this is a statement win actually for you guys, just in terms of getting momentum and going on with it and running with it?
Kagiso Rabada
We're just looking to play our best cricket whenever we play a game. We're not worried about what statements we're making. We're only worried about the plans that we want to execute.
[Reporter:]
Just on that, South Africa have done so well in these last two games that people are starting to now talk about you guys as you know one of the favourites for the semis etc. Do you feel that yet, or are you still just like flying under the radar a bit?
Kagiso Rabada
We're still a long way away but there are plenty of positives to take. So that's a good thing but we're looking to rock up the next game. Like I said, we'll see how we feel we want to improve, look at our strengths, look at our weaknesses and look to brush up. But generally, I think we played nearly the perfect game of cricket. So, it's just about leaving this behind once we leave that behind and focus on the next game, that's it.
[Reporter:]
So probably this was asked earlier, but what did you take from the Australian bowling unit there? It looked like all three of your quicks tried a lot of cutters early on into the surface?
Kagiso Rabada
Australia, has a quality bowling outfit. It's always nice to watch and they've been doing it for years, this trio. I thought they bowled really well but our batters absorbed the pressure and then transferred it when it was time to transfer the pressure. It was never going to be easy and it certainly wasn't easy for our batters. It's always a stiff, stiff challenge against Australia and we enjoy it.
