Kagiso Rabada backed to step up in semifinals despite poor luck in T20 World Cup 2026 South Africa's Test captain Temba Bavuma has expressed confidence in Kagiso Rabada's ability to perform in the T20 World Cup semifinal against New Zealand, despite the pacer's underwhelming returns in the tournament so far. Bavuma emphasized that Rabada's struggles, including a low wicket tally and dropped catches, have not reflected his true capabilities. Rabada has struggled in the T20 World Cup, taking just four wickets in six matches at an average of 47.25 and an economy rate of 7.98. His performance was further impacted by being rested for South Africa's final Super Eight game, with younger players Kwena Maphaka and Anrich Nortje stepping in as replacements. Bavuma defended Rabada's contributions, noting that several crucial catches were dropped off his bowling, which significantly affected his statistics. The skipper highlighted that Rabada's form has been overshadowed by bad luck, with Bavuma stating, "I think he has also been unlucky, right, where there have been a lot of dropped catches off his bowling. His figures could have looked a lot different." Bavuma added that he would not be dissatisfied with Rabada's performances, underscoring the importance of maintaining faith in the player despite the current challenges. Bavuma also praised the overall strength of South Africa's pace attack, which includes Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, and Anrich Nortje. He noted that the team has seen exceptional performances from multiple bowlers simultaneously, a rare occurrence in cricket. "In a rare way, in a team, you are going to have four superb guys at the same time," Bavuma said, citing the consistent excellence of his teammates.#t20_world_cup_2026 #temba_bavuma #new_zealand #south_africa #kagiso_rabada
