ODI World Cup: We believe we can win the title, says South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada

South African gun fast bowler Kagiso Rabada reckons they can go all the way in the upcoming ODI World Cup. The Proteas are yet to win their maiden ODI World Cup title despite qualifying for the knockout stages on multiple occasions.

South Africa could only win three out of the nine matches in the 2019 World Cup and finished at the seventh place in the standings. Thus, they failed to qualify for the semifinal stages in the previous World Cup.

Meanwhile, the Temba Bavuma-led team have been in fine form in the recent past. They lost the first two ODIs against Australia but bounced back in style to win the next three matches and ergo, the series by 3-2.

The likes of David Miller, Quinton de Kock, Heinrich Klaasen have been in supreme form and they will want to carry the good show for the Rainbow nation.

“One thing we have never lacked as South Africans is belief, so going into the tournament we do believe we can win it,” Rabada was quoted as saying by ICC.

“We’ve got the players to do so, so hopefully we can make our first final and win this competition. It’s going to be hard, but it’s going to be really enjoyable. It’s exciting to have the best players in the world playing against each other, competing for one prize, and we are up for the challenge.

Meanwhile, Rabada didn’t have a great run in the 2019 World Cup as he could only scalp 11 wickets in the nine matches he played at a poor average of 36.09. The right-arm pacer, who will be South Africa’s pack leader, will look to turn the tables in the upcoming event.

“The 2019 World Cup was my first and I wasn’t successful at all. The lesson I took from that is that team cohesion is the most important factor, because individuals don’t win World Cups, teams do. The older I have become and the more caps I have, the more I realise that I am a leader in that environment,” Rabada said.

“Through knowing my own strengths and reinforcing them, knowing what makes me tick and through lending an ear to other players, I want to help set how we play as a collective.”

South Africa will begin their World Cup campaign against Sri Lanka at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on October 7.