Rabada available for selection, confirm Gujarat Titans

Gujarat Titans have confirmed that Kagiso Rabada has returned to India and is available for selection.

"Kagiso Rabada has accepted responsibility and regrets his mistake. South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) has completed the investigation. Rabada has honoured his provisional suspension and has also completed a program. He is now fully available for selection in the remaining matches of the IPL," the Titans said in a statement on Monday (May 5) evening, the eve of their return leg match against Mumbai Indians.

On May 3, Cricbuzz reported that Rabada is back and he will be available for selection for GT's next game. Rabada was seen at the GT nets at the Wankhede on Monday.

Earlier, Titans director Vikram Solanki mounted a fierce defence in favour of the South African pacer. "It's our job to support the players we have, whether it be on a matter of form or it be on a matter of personal matters like this. We will be supportive of Kagiso. We're confident that he has had some time to think about things.

"It is easy to get distracted. And one of the things he's made very clear is that he doesn't want this episode to distract anybody. As far as the team is concerned. He spoke very eloquently about the fact that this is something he's dealing with. It's not a matter as far as the team is concerned. The team will, of course, support him."

The Titans top official said it was an error of judgement by the player and he has learnt lessons. "The first of which would be that Kagiso has expressed regret at an error in judgement. He's made a telling statement. I read his statement and I thought that his statement speaks volumes about his personality, the character that he is. He has expressed regret, as I said, but is very much looking forward to getting back to playing the game he loves. He will take his lessons from this."

Rabada featured in two IPL games before returning to South Africa to serve a one-month suspension after testing positive for a substance abuse during SA20. The South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport confirmed that the 29-year-old pacer has completed the mandated two-session treatment program and his provisional suspension has ended.

"We tried to be mindful of the emotion around Kagiso as well. But having said all of that, he's now back having served the time. And what we're looking for now is for him to just be back doing what he loves," said Solanki, a former England batter who represented his country in 51 ODIs and three T20Is.

He's spent some time, I suppose, understanding how much he actually loves playing this game. And the message, certainly, in the conversations I've had with him is that he doesn't want for any stage to take playing this game he loves for granted. And I suppose if that is the mindset he is of, it sort of holds him in good stead as well as the rest of the group in good stead. I think you follow the procedure. The procedure is not laid out by any individual. The procedure is in place regardless of any individual or any certain circumstance."

Solanki further said that there should be a closure to the chapter since Rabada has followed the procedure. "The circumstances are such that this was deemed appropriate. We don't have any sort of control of that. It is the authorities that have control of the circumstances and what exactly the procedure must be.

"My personal view is you follow procedure. There is a set of rules, and the rules are in place for a reason. If the rules are in place for a reason, they apply to one person as much as they apply to the next. And if the findings are such that it has been deemed appropriate for him to settle one minor sentence, then that is the right thing to do."

Rabada is now not only eligible to feature in the business end of the IPL, but also available to represent his country in the World Test Championship final (versus Australia), scheduled from June 11 to 15 at Lord's.