Why Rabada isn't playing MI-GT match despite being cleared to play after drug ban? Gujarat Titans skipper Gill explains

Kagiso Rabada has been in the news for the wrong reasons lately, with the South African pace star having tested positive for recreational drug use that resulted in him having to fly back home midway during the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL). Rabada has since reportedly completed a one-month suspension and was available for selection in GT’s away match against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday.

LIVE | Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Titans, IPL 2025 match at Wankhede Stadium

Except he remained on the bench as the Titans decided to bring left-arm quick Arshad Khan into the lineup in place of off-spinner Washington Sundar after skipper Shubman Gill won the toss and opted to field.

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“We have one change. Arshad comes back for Sundar. Rabada is back (in the squad), but he will need a few practice sessions and a few games to get back in his groove,” Gill said during the toss and cricketer-turned-commentator Ian Bishop enquired about Rabada’s absence from the playing XI, with the speedster not even included in the Titans’ Impact Subs list.

Rabada has made just two appearances in the ongoing IPL season, against Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians in the team’s first two games of the season. The pacer, who will turn 30 later this month, had conceded more than 40 runs in both games while collecting a solitary wicket in each.

MI captain Hardik Pandya, meanwhile, announced an unchanged playing XI for the home team, who are on a six-match winning streak and are hoping to reclaim the top spot from the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

IPL 2025, MI vs GT Playing XIs and Impact Subs

Mumbai Indians: Ryan Rickelton(w), Rohit Sharma, Will Jacks, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya(c), Naman Dhir, Corbin Bosch, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah; Impact Subs: Karn Sharma, Raj Bawa, Robin Minz, Reece Topley, Ashwani Kumar

Gujarat Titans: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill(c), Jos Buttler(w), Rahul Tewatia, Shahrukh Khan, Rashid Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Arshad Khan, Gerald Coetzee, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna; Impact Subs: Washington Sundar, Mahipal Lomror, Anuj Rawat, Dasun Shanaka, Sherfane Rutherford