Last year during the Under-19 World Cup, when Kagiso Rabada took a six-for in the semi-final against Australia, eyes widened and those who keep a beady eye on youth tournaments immediately wanted to know about the kid who was pinning batsmen with 145km/h deliveries.

Those in the know at Cricket South Africa knew exactly who he was and faster than you could say “not chokers”, Rabada was fast-tracked through the system. He had a franchise contract lined up and in his first season as a professional cricketer with the Lions he excelled. He finished with 39 wickets in the eight first-class games he played, at an average of 21.12. The going on the one-day competition was much tougher and he managed just four wickets in eight games, his average a plump 93.75. He didn’t get much time in the T20 competition, playing just four games and taking five wickets at an average of 19.80.

His efforts in both the Under-19 World Cup and early in his domestic career were enough to earn him his T20 debut last year. He has played four games since and although his returns have been modest, there is no doubting that he is a supremely talented young player.

On Friday, on his ODI debut, Rabada did it again.  He took six wickets for 16 runs, including a hat-trick, the best figures for anyone on ODI debut.  South Africa won easily, having bowled Bangladesh out for just 160, they won by eight wickets.

“I didn’t know what to bowl,” he said of his hat-trick delivery. “I thought of the yorker, bouncer or just a normal length delivery. I ended up going for the yorker and missed it by miles. It was probably a fluke but I’ll take it,” he joked.

 “The wicket looked like it had a bit more grass than in the T20’s, that encouraged me a little bit,” he said to the media after the match, still on a high from his achievement. “I went in there trying to execute good lengths, good lines and varying it up with some bouncers and yorkers that we have been working on in practice sessions.”

Those who had not heard his name before, certainly did now. Rabada’s effort in his debut was enough to earn him a second dig in the second ODI on Sunday. This time, Rabada’s challenge would be very different than in his debut. South Africa suffered the same affliction as Bangladesh did in that first match. They were bowled out for 162 after winning the toss and batting first. Rabada, thus, had far less to work with than the freedom he had in that first game. Despite claiming two sticks early on, things went a bit wayward for Rabada and, at one point, he had to bowl an eight-ball over in suffocating sub-continental humidity.

It was a stern introduction to the ups and downs that come with international cricket, but it’s not like he wasn’t expecting it.

“There is a responsibility that comes when you are selected to represent your country,” he said. “You have to make sure that you fulfil your role. With every game that comes I’m going to make sure that I’m ready and I’m going to try to do well. If I don’t do well, what can you do, if I do well then great,” he had said after that first game.

Rabada didn’t do well on Sunday, but that is the nature of the beast that is international sport. Rabada is still young and he will learn, his talent is evident and aside from the fact that he suffers from scoliosis, there is not a single thing that will stand between him and greatness. But on his journey there, Rabada’s shoulders will also be burdened with great expectations.

The bulk of that expectation will come from being a prodigy. Like young Quinton de Kock, much is expected of Rabada’s talent. When prodigies burst onto the scene they set the bar impossibly high. The first thing the mainstream sees of them is their exceptional talent and when you are that good, even your bad days are expected to be half-decent. Blips in form are questioned far more seriously than simply accepting it as an “off day”.  Rabada has almost certainly bowled himself into a Test debut before the end of the year and when that day comes, expectations will be high. Not that the 20-year old will be too fazed. He is one of the most mature young sportsmen in the current Proteas set up which is always blended with a good douse of youthful optimism.

But, in an infinitely complex landscape like South Africa, there will be additional expectations. As a young and talented black bowler, who fell into the selectors laps after his Under-19 World Cup performances, Rabada will have the additional expectations of the suits resting on his broad shoulders. South Africa has not produced a regular black bowler other than Makhaya Nitni in the two decades since democracy. Lonwabo Tsotsobe played a few Tests and a number of limited overs games, but eventually fell by the wayside. At the tender age of 20, with buckets of talent, Rabada will be expected to be next great black cricketer to achieve legendary status. That he will go on to be great is almost written in the stars, so long as those suits keep their expectations in check and put his well-being ahead of their own agendas. DM

Photo: Kagiso Rabada is congratulated by his teammates after his hat trick. (A frame grab from the TV feed)