Kagiso Rabada IPL Stats, Wickets, Price, Team, Salary & Career Records

Kagiso Rabada is one of the most feared fast bowlers in IPL history. The South African speedster combines genuine pace with deadly accuracy, and his record in the league speaks for itself: a Purple Cap, the fastest hundred wickets by any bowler, and a wicket in 25 consecutive innings, an all-time IPL record.

Since his debut in 2017, Rabada has led the attacks of three franchises: Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans. His peak years with Delhi, when he formed a lethal new-ball pair with Anrich Nortje, remain among the finest sustained spells of fast bowling the tournament has seen.

This article covers Kagiso Rabada IPL stats in full: season-by-season wickets, auction price and salary history, best performances, teams, playing style, international highlights and career records.

Early Career and IPL Debut

Kagiso Rabada was born on 25 May 1995 in Johannesburg, South Africa. A tall right-arm fast bowler, he burst onto the scene as a teenager and was already South Africa’s spearhead in all formats by the time he turned 21.

Delhi Daredevils bought him for five crore rupees at the 2017 auction, a huge sum for a 21-year-old. He played six matches in his debut season before a back injury ruled him out of the entire 2018 campaign. The franchise kept faith, retaining him through the injury layoff, and he repaid them spectacularly on his return.

Kagiso Rabada IPL Stats by Season

Rabada’s numbers across seasons show a bowler who was close to unplayable at his peak.

The 2020 season was his masterpiece. He took 30 wickets in 17 matches to win the Purple Cap and carried Delhi Capitals to their first-ever IPL final. During that campaign he took at least one wicket in 25 consecutive innings, setting an all-time IPL record for consistency.

His 2019 season was arguably even more destructive on a per-match basis: 25 wickets in just 12 matches at an astonishing average of 14.72. The 2022 season with Punjab Kings was another strong year, with 23 wickets at 17.65.

Wickets, Best Performances and Bowling Records

Rabada holds one of the most remarkable records in IPL history: he is the fastest bowler to 100 IPL wickets, reaching the milestone in just 64 matches. He broke Lasith Malinga’s long-standing record of 70 matches, getting there with the wicket of Wriddhiman Saha against Gujarat Titans at Mohali.

His best IPL figures of 4 for 21 underline his ability to rip through line-ups, and his strike rate during his Delhi peak was among the best the league has ever seen. Few bowlers have combined new-ball menace with death-overs control the way Rabada did between 2019 and 2020.

His record of a wicket in 25 straight innings may stand for a long time. It speaks to a bowler who never went missing, delivering breakthroughs in the powerplay, the middle overs and at the death with equal regularity.

IPL Auction Price and Salary History

Rabada has been one of the highest-paid overseas pacers in IPL history.

After Delhi released him ahead of the 2022 mega auction, Punjab Kings won a fierce bidding war at 9.25 crore. Three seasons later, Gujarat Titans secured him at the 2025 mega auction for 10.75 crore after outbidding Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Mumbai Indians. Across his IPL career he has earned well over 55 crore rupees in salary alone.

Teams: Delhi, Punjab and Gujarat

Rabada spent his formative IPL years with the Delhi franchise, first as a Daredevil and then as a Capital. It was in Delhi blue that he produced his career-defining seasons and became a household name in India.

His move to Punjab Kings in 2022 brought one excellent season followed by two quieter ones as injuries and workload management limited his appearances. In 2025 he began a new chapter with Gujarat Titans, who see him as the leader of their pace attack. Across all teams, his overall record stands at 119 wickets in 82 matches at an economy of 8.53.

Playing Style and Strengths

Rabada is a classical fast bowler with a smooth, repeatable action that generates serious pace, regularly touching 145 kph and beyond. His bouncer is one of the most feared balls in T20 cricket, and his yorker, delivered at full pace, has ended many chases.

What truly sets him apart is his bowling intelligence. He reads batters quickly, sets them up over spells, and rarely bowls the same ball twice in pressure situations. His new-ball partnership with Anrich Nortje at Delhi was built on complementary skills: Nortje’s raw speed alongside Rabada’s skill and control.

He shares the modern fast bowler’s craft with contemporaries like Jasprit Bumrah, whose mastery of the yorker has redefined death bowling, and Trent Boult, the left-arm swing bowler whose powerplay spells have won countless matches. Among this elite group, Rabada’s peak strike rate stands as tall as anyone’s.

Few overseas quicks have matched his wicket-taking consistency in the league. His ability to bowl in every phase of the innings made him the complete T20 package at his best, in the same conversation as the finest Indian death bowlers such as Harshal Patel, whose variations made him a Purple Cap winner in his own right.

International Career Highlights

For South Africa, Rabada has been the leader of the attack in all three formats for nearly a decade. He reached 100 ODI wickets before the 2019 World Cup and has been among the top-ranked Test bowlers in the world for years, with his pace and bounce making him lethal on any surface.

His most famous T20I moment came at the 2021 T20 World Cup, where he took a hat-trick against England, becoming the first South African bowler to achieve the feat in T20 internationals. He played his 50th Test against India in 2022 and took a five-wicket haul at Lord’s against England the same year.

Future Outlook

Injuries and workload have slowed Rabada in recent seasons, but his class remains beyond doubt. Gujarat Titans have invested heavily in him as their pace spearhead, and a fully fit Rabada remains capable of winning matches on his own.

With 119 IPL wickets already, the 150-wicket landmark is a realistic target if he stays healthy. For South Africa and his IPL franchises alike, managing his workload will be the key to unlocking a few more vintage seasons from one of the great fast bowlers of his generation.

FAQs

When did Kagiso Rabada make his IPL debut?

Kagiso Rabada made his IPL debut in 2017 for Delhi Daredevils, who bought him for five crore rupees at the auction. He played six matches in his first season.

How many wickets has Kagiso Rabada taken in the IPL?

Kagiso Rabada has taken 119 wickets in 82 IPL matches across Delhi, Punjab and Gujarat franchises, at an economy rate of 8.53.

Did Kagiso Rabada win the IPL Purple Cap?

Yes. Kagiso Rabada won the Purple Cap in 2020 with 30 wickets in 17 matches for Delhi Capitals, leading them to their first IPL final.

What is Kagiso Rabada’s IPL salary?

Kagiso Rabada earns 10.75 crore rupees per season. Gujarat Titans bought him for Rs 10.75 crore at the 2025 mega auction.

Which teams has Kagiso Rabada played for in the IPL?

Kagiso Rabada has played for Delhi Daredevils/Delhi Capitals (2017-2021), Punjab Kings (2022-2024) and Gujarat Titans (2025 onwards).

What is Kagiso Rabada’s fastest IPL record?

Kagiso Rabada is the fastest bowler to 100 IPL wickets, reaching the milestone in just 64 matches and breaking Lasith Malinga’s record of 70 matches.