Proteas bowling coach Charl Langeveldt says Kagiso Rabada was physically and mentally drained at the T20 World Cup in Australia.
The Proteas quick took just two wickets in five matches at the tournament at an average of 75.50 and an economy rate of 9.43.
“He is now 27 and he is not a robot. If we don’t make a plan [to give Rabada a break] he will burn out,” Langeveldt told Rapport newspaper.
“KG is a very proud player. He hates losing. And the T20 World Cup defeats hurt him.
“He is usually the type of player who will be a bit miserable right after a bad performance, but the next day he is back with meaning. He sets very high standards, and he bowls an incredible amount of balls in the nets.”
Rabada has been rested since South Africa’s T20 World Cup exit, which Langeveldt believes “will do him good” ahead of the three-Test series in Australia.
“He is the type of player who is switched on for every game, and especially for the Tests. I know he will be switched on for the Aussie series.”
