Written by Rhea Alison, Sports reporter, covering international sports since 2020

Kagiso Rabada’s struggle with his trademark yorker came under scrutiny on April 1, 2026, during Gujarat Titans’ narrow three-wicket loss to Punjab Kings in the IPL 2026 opener in New Chandigarh, as experts pointed out a clear dip in his death bowling impact, raising concerns about his role in high-pressure overs.

Rabada’s Dip in Form Becomes Clear

Rabada, once the Purple Cap winner in 2020, has seen a steady decline in effectiveness. His figures of 3-0-34-1 reflected a bowler searching for answers rather than controlling the game. The crowd sensed the shift late in the innings as Punjab batters capitalized on loose deliveries.

Dale Steyn summed it up:
"Just by the eye, it looks like he hasn't kind of performed as well as one would hope he would."

Yorker Problem Highlighted

Ambati Rayudu focused on a key issue:
"But has he started bowling too much of that cross-seam? He lost his yorker."

Data backs this. Rabada bowled 21 yorkers in IPL 2020 but only 15 across the last three seasons before 2026. That drop has hurt him badly in death overs.

Jansen Comparison Adds Pressure

Marco Jansen’s disciplined spell stood out. Steyn noted:
"On the flipside of things, you've got Jansen, who just seems to be getting better and better."

What’s Next for Rabada?

Steyn remains hopeful:
"I'm hoping that this is the season that he can really stand up..."

Rabada still has time to rediscover rhythm, but IPL 2026 could define his comeback.

Check our full IPL coverage with match insights on Smart Play Tips
For official stats and updates, visit IPL official site