Satyanarayan Mohapatra
South African pace sensation Kagiso Rabada has etched his name in cricketing history, becoming the fastest bowler ever to reach 300 Test wickets in terms of balls bowled. His fiery spell on Day 1 of the first Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka not only decimated the home team's batting lineup but also propelled him into an elite club of cricketing legends.
Rabada achieved this remarkable feat in his 65th Test match, dismissing Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das in quick succession to reach the 300-wicket milestone. While India's Ravichandran Ashwin holds the record for the fastest to 300 wickets in terms of matches (54 Tests), Rabada surpassed all-comers in terms of balls bowled, reaching the landmark in just 11,817 deliveries.
This achievement places him ahead of some of the greatest names in fast bowling history, including Pakistan's Waqar Younis (12,602 balls), South Africa's Dale Steyn (12,605 balls), and the legendary West Indian Malcolm Marshall (13,728 balls).
Rabada's pace and ability to swing the ball have made him a nightmare for batsmen around the world. His aggressive approach and relentless pursuit of wickets have earned him a reputation as one of the most fearsome bowlers in modern-day cricket.
This latest milestone adds another feather to his cap, solidifying his place among the greats of the game. He joins an illustrious list of South African bowlers with 300 or more Test wickets, including Dale Steyn, Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini, Allan Donald, and Morne Morkel. Furthermore, Rabada boasts the highest strike rate (39.3) among all bowlers in this elite club, a testament to his wicket-taking prowess.
South Africa's quest for WTC
Rabada's record-breaking performance has also given South Africa a significant boost in their quest for a maiden World Test Championship (WTC) title. Their dominant display on Day 1 of the Dhaka Test, where they left Bangladesh reeling at 60-6 after the first session, has put them in a commanding position to secure crucial WTC points.
With upcoming series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka on home soil, South Africa is well-positioned to make a strong push for a place in the WTC final.
