Ahmedabad, February 27 It hasn't quite been the tournament Kagiso Rabada envisioned for himself – dropped catches, delayed breakthroughs, and a touch of bad luck – but as South Africa continues its winning streak, the pace spearhead is content to focus on the bigger picture.
After South Africa's emphatic nine-wicket win over the West Indies on Thursday, Rabada offered a reflective comment in the mixed zone.
He has taken four wickets so far, going wicketless in three consecutive games: New Zealand, UAE, and India.
He suggested that personal statistics can wait when the team is performing well.
"That's just the nature of cricket," Rabada said when reminded that four catches have been dropped off his bowling in the tournament.
"How often does it actually go in your favor, and how often does it not? More often than not, it goes in your favor. Unfortunately, it hasn't been the case recently, but the most important thing is that we've been winning."
It is this ability to win in different ways that has given this South African campaign a sense of calm. Experienced players have blended seamlessly with a fearless younger generation, and contributions have come from across the team. While David Miller steered them to victory in one game, captain Aiden Markram did so in another. The bowlers have also performed well when needed, whether it's Marco Jansen or Lungi Ngidi.
"That's a good sign. We have a team that is experienced, with a mix of young players as well. If you look at how everyone has been performing recently, you can take confidence from their individual performances, and that's been translating into the games," said Rabada.
He traced the roots of this collective surge to the SA20 build-up, where many of the key players found form before stepping onto the global stage.
"It's about doing more of the same and hoping that it falls in our favor," he said.
Like a true teammate, Rabada backed his long-time new-ball partner, Lungi Ngidi, who has responded to scrutiny with decisive spells.
"I'm extremely happy for Lungi. He's been under a lot of pressure over the past two to five years. When you're doing well, everyone reminds you, and when you're not, it feels twice as bad. I'm incredibly proud of how he's turned things around. He's a good friend of mine."
He was equally effusive about the rise of Corbin Bosch, crediting "meticulous hard work and preparation" for what he called a "magnificent year and a half."
Bosch has made a quiet but impactful contribution to the Proteas' impressive campaign, even as the spotlight has remained on bigger names. He has taken nine wickets, striking in each of the contests since his arrival in India.
Rabada also offered a glimpse into the tactical ecosystem of South Africa's attack. He described it as a "network" where individual strengths are amplified rather than homogenized.
Whether it's Ngidi's disguised cutters, Bosch's variations, or Rabada's own ability to swing the ball at pace, the philosophy is simple: back what makes each bowler unique and construct plans around it.
He admitted that the margins remain fine. He still winces at the thought of the earlier Afghanistan scare in the tournament. It was his no-ball that stretched the match to two Super overs.
"On the positive side, I made it interesting, but if we had lost that game, I would have taken it quite heavily," he said.
