As the IPL 2025 playoffs near, teams try to make every match count. After Royal Challenger’s Bengaluru (RCB) underdog performance this season, Kagiso Rabada’s provisional ban comes as a blow to the Gujarat Titans (GT). Facing a suspension, Rabada had admitted to testing positive for recreational drug use leading to his departure from IPL 2025 in April.
“As has been reported, I recently returned to South Africa from participating in the IPL for personal reasons. This was due to my returning an adverse analytical finding for the use of a recreational drug,” Rabada admitted in his statement.
Adding further he said, “I am deeply sorry to all those that I have let down. I will never take the privilege of playing cricket for granted.” Announcing that he is “serving a provisional suspension” he said that he looked forward to the game he “loves to play” in the statement issued through the South African Cricketer’s Association (SACA)
Before this was confirmed, Gujarat Titans had announced that he had to return home to deal with a “significant personal matter” not indicating signs of malpractice. His absence has been noted in the IPL 2025 season since March 29. A statement can be expected from the South African Agency for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) regarding Rabada early next week.
The IPL 2025 season will be ending this month as qualifying teams will make it to playoffs on May 20. The 2025 IPL season has been electrifying, highlighted by 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s record-breaking century for Rajasthan Royals. As of May 4, Royal Challengers Bengaluru lead the points table with 16 points from 11 matches, followed by Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans, both with 14 points. However, it is still early to predict the teams to qualify in the playoffs.