South Africa’s right-arm quick Kagiso Rabada recently placed several pacers, including the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Mitchell Starc, in a blind-ranked list of top 10 ODI pacers.
Bumrah and Starc, like several others, have been match-winners for their teams in the 50-over setup.
In a recent appearance on the renowned Bear Before Wicket podcast co-hosted by Adil Rashid, Rabada modestly placed himself on the 10th position, while picking compatriots Dale Steyn and Shaun Pollock as second and third on the list.
He kept Bumrah at the fourth rank, three positions above Starc (seventh) while Brett Lee and Trent Boult occupied the positions between Bumrah and Starc. Former English and Sri Lankan veterans Stuart Broad and Chaminda Vaas came eighth and ninth on the list.
Rabada’s top 10 ODI pacers:
2. Dale Steyn
3. Shaun Pollock
4. Jasprit Bumrah
5. Brett Lee
6. Trent Boult
7. Mitchell Starc
8. Stuart Broad
9. Chaminda Vaas
10. Kagiso Rabada
Interestingly, Wasim Akram, with 502 wickets to his name in 356 matches while averaging 23.52, did not find a place in Rabada’s picks while Glenn McGrath was not mentioned either. McGrath took 381 wickets in 250 matches at an outstanding average of 22.02.
Speaking of Rabada’s ODI numbers, he has played 106 matches for South Africa and has secured 168 wickets so far. His most-recent 50-over appearance in national colours was the second semi-final of the Champions Trophy 2025 against New Zealand in March.
Meanwhile, the Proteas will next take part in an ODI during their all-format tour of Pakistan. The three ODIs in Faisalabad will be preceded by two Tests and three T20Is. Rabada, being the all-format bowler like many in his aforementioned list, will understandably play a vital role for South Africa across October and November.
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