The reason behind Kagiso Rabada’s surprise exit from the IPL 2025 has taken a more serious turn, with confirmation that the South African is now under provisional suspension after testing positive for a recreational drug.
Rabada had earlier left the Gujarat Titans in early April after just two games, citing “personal reasons” for his departure. The news, confirmed by the South African Cricketers’ Association, ends weeks of silence and speculation.
Rabada, 29, had played the first two matches for Gujarat after being signed for INR 10.75 crore in December. His sudden absence, with no details shared by the team or the league, had left fans puzzled. Even Titans captain Shubman Gill had merely mentioned his unavailability, saying nothing more on the subject.
For nearly a month, there was no update until Kagiso Rabada himself issued a statement through his player association.
“As has been reported, I recently returned to South Africa from participating in the IPL for personal reasons,” Rabada said. “This was due to my returning an adverse analytical finding for the use of a recreational drug. I am deeply sorry to all those that I have let down… This privilege is much larger than me. It goes beyond my personal aspirations.”
Kagiso Rabada admitted to the breach, accepted the provisional suspension, and thanked his close circle for standing by him.
Reports in foreign media suggest Kagiso Rabada failed a drug test taken during the SA20 earlier this year. If true, that would raise questions about how the IPL clearance process allowed him to feature in matches while results were still pending.
For South Africa, the bigger concern is his availability for the World Test Championship final against Australia, scheduled for June 11 at Lord’s. Rabada’s immediate future in both franchise and international cricket is in serious doubt.
Cricket South Africa has not yet commented on whether the suspension will extend into the international calendar, but for now, the spotlight stays on the fast bowler—not for his wickets, but for a misstep he now hopes to move past. How soon Kagiso Rabada can return, and how the cricketing world receives him when he does, remains to be seen.
Kagiso Rabada’s suspension is just one point in a long list of things that have gone awry in this year’s IPL. With the season slowly coming to an end, both the league and the players will be hoping for a reset soon.