Former cricketer calls out Australia over Kagiso Rabada’s drug ban ahead of SA vs AUS 2025 WTC final

Former South African cricketer Daryll Cullinan remarked that it is inevitable that Australia will use Kagiso Rabada's recent drug ban to their advantage when it comes to mind games during the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) Final. The South African speedster had to serve a one-month suspension during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 after failing a doping test conducted earlier this year.

The right-arm pacer was cleared in time to rejoin the Gujarat Titans (GT), and be available for the World Test Championship (WTC) Final as well. He played in a couple of matches in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 after its resumption, as well as a warm-up game for South Africa against Zimbabwe ahead of the clash against Australia.

Daryll Cullinan fully expects Australia to bring up Rabada's drug ban, much like it has been mentioned during the build-up. The former player also added that the pacer will not be able to shake it off as long as he is in the sport.

"Unfortunately, Rabada is going to deal with, for the rest of his career, comments being made relating to off-the-field matters, not only on the field but also by spectators. Only he can deal with it. The best would be just to take wickets. That'll settle that side of things too, but I think it'd be naive to think that comments won't be made and his attention brought to it, but it's going to be something that he's going to have to live with for the rest of his career, even if he's taking wickets," Cullinan told Hindustan Times in an interview.

Kagiso Rabada has had his run-ins against the Australians in the past. He was handed a two-match ban and fined fifty percent of his match fees after a Level Two Code of Conduct Offence during the infamous home series in 2018.

The pacer had made physical contact with Steve Smith while celebrating his wicket. However, his ban was overturned following an appeal.

"I’d be surprised if that came up” - Pat Cummins on Kagiso Rabada's drug ban

Although the new-age Australian side under Pat Cummins are not renowned for employing or endorsing sledging, the question has to be raised considering that it is in their DNA.

While Rabada's drug test is a potential avenue that Australia can exploit to gain insight into the opposition's mindset, Cummins dismissed any talk of the subject being brought up during the match. The skipper had also skipped past a question related to Rabada's drug ban during a recent appearance on 'The Grade Cricketer'.