Delhi Capitals pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada is all set to miss the first week of IPL 2021 due to national commitments. Faf du Plessis, Anrich Nortje, Quinton de Kock and David Miller are players who could miss start of IPL 2021 as well. Pakistan are scheduled to play South Africa which will end on April 16. Thus Rabada and his other Protean teammates will miss the first week of IPL if the season starts from 9-10 April.

As per the schedule, Pakistan are slated to tour South Africa for a white-ball series, starting April 2. The last fixture will be played on April 16. Given the present COVID protocols and restrictions, the SA cricketers will be ruled out for at least the first 2 weeks of IPL if they play all the matches against Pakistan.

Also Read: 5 Expensive Buys From IPL 2021 Auction

Country Comes First: Kagiso Rabada

“Country comes first and I may miss a week of the IPL if the Pakistan series is scheduled at the same time the IPL starts. Delhi has been my home in India, but national duty is a priority,” the right-arm pacer told iol.co.za.

Kagiso Rabada won the purple cap last year taking 30 wickets 17 games including 2 four-wicket hauls. His DC and South African teammate Anrich Nortje took 22 wickets in his maiden IPL season. Rabada, who had first joined DC in 2017, was retained by them the next year for Rs 4.2 crore by the use of Right to Match (RTM) card. He missed that season due to an injury and returned next year.

In three years, Kagiso Rabada has picked up 61 wickets for the franchise and is one of their most important overseas players.

The IPL 2020 finalists bought as many as eight players in the auction including the likes of Steve Smith, Tom Curran, Umesh Yadav and Sam Billings.

Also Read: IPL 2021: Complete Squads Of All Eight Franchises