Why is Kagiso Rabada not playing GT vs CSK IPL 2025 match? Check GT Playing 11

In a big breaking news development, the Gujarat Titans (GT) are not playing their premier overseas fast bowler Kagiso Rabada in their last league stage match of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) season against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) being hosted at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The Gujarat Titans have played some phenomenal cricket in the ongoing edition of the T20 tournament as they are currently placed at the top spot on the IPL 2025 points table with as many as 9 victories from their 13 matches. The Shubman Gill-led GT team have already qualified for the IPL 2025 playoffs, but they will now be aiming for a top 2 finish. 

Why is Kagiso Rabada not playing today's GT vs CSK IPL 2025 match?

After losing the toss and being asked to bowl first, Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill revealed that pace bowler Kagiso Rabada is not part of the GT playing 11 in this match against Chennai Super Kings on Sunday. Interestingly, after being picked by the Gujarat Titans for a whopping amount of INR 10.75 Crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction, the South African speedster has failed to deliver the goods so far this season. He has managed to pick only two wickets from four games at an expensive economy of more than 11 and an average of 81. 

Incidentally, Kagiso Rabada also missed a few matches for the Gujarat Titans this year after he was handed a provisional suspension by the Cricket South Africa (CSA) for testing positive for a recreational drug. During the last game against Lucknow Super Giants, Rabada ended up conceding a total of 45 runs in his overs and did not picked up a single wicket. On the other hand, his fellow South African teammate Gerald Coetzee has been included in the GT playing XI for this match against CSK. 

"Feels exciting to have that (Test captaincy) challenge, it's going to be an exciting series against England for us. In the last match we were in the game till the 16th or 17th over. We were looking to bowl first today anyway. Looks a good wicket to bat on, it won't change much. We have one change, Gerald Coetzee comes in for Kagiso Rabada," stated Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill during the toss.

Tonight’s Titans – locked in! 🔐💙 pic.twitter.com/qyAXUXRBrS

— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) May 25, 2025

GT Playing 11

Shubman Gill(c), Jos Buttler(w), Sherfane Rutherford, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Gerald Coetzee, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Mohammed Siraj, Arshad Khan, Prasidh Krishna.

Gujarat Titans Impact Subs - Sai Sudharsan, Anuj Rawat, Mahipal Lomror, Washington Sundar, Ishant Sharma

GT IPL 2025 Squad

Shubman Gill(c), Jos Buttler(w), Sherfane Rutherford, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Arshad Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Sai Sudharsan, Ishant Sharma, Jayant Yadav, Dasun Shanaka, Kusal Mendis, Washington Sundar, Mahipal Lomror, Karim Janat, Kulwant Khejroliya, Anuj Rawat, Gerald Coetzee, Manav Suthar, Kumar Kushagra, Gurnoor Brar, Nishant Sindhu