Chokers to champions: Kagiso Rabada explains how Shukri Conrad reshaped Proteas' team culture

In the past the Proteas have fallen short in ICC events when it really mattered with a team stacked with some of the greatest names in South African cricket.

Gun speedster Kagiso Rabada has been in a few of those teams who arrived at World Cups and flattered to deceive, as the legacy of the “chocker” tag kept on growing and growing.

But in June 2025 that tag was finally shed by a bunch of players - besides Rabada of course, who are not exactly seen as world beaters, but players who contributed at the right time and the right place. They beat the arch-enemy Australia in the final of the World Test Championship at Lord's to finally break that curse.

For the current class of Proteas it’s about the collective effort and a team first ethos. It’s why Rabada and many of his teammates are playing the game with a smile on their faces. 

“I was part of teams that had AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn. We were the number one team in the world in 2019, but we didn't even make the knockouts (of the 50-over World Cup in England),” Rabada said at a media event at Red Bull in Cape Town on Wednesday.

“I really enjoyed playing in that team, and those guys are legends. But we really don't have those guys in the team anymore.

“Most of the players in the team are guys that you played against at school level and played with them at Under-19 level. So we get along and come from a similar generation.

“We have that camaraderie and it almost takes the pressure off. Everyone is going towards that one goal …there are no egos in the team.”

That team culture has been driven by coach Shukri Conrad, who has given the players the freedom to play the match situation instead of sticking to a certain way of playing.

Conrad, who has also been appointed coach of the white-ball teams, believes in empowering his players and creating an environment where players can take responsibility.

In their run to the WTC final against Australia, they went unbeaten in seven Test matches to qualify, with almost all of the squad members contributing at crucial times.

Against the Aussies, Rabada shone with the ball before Aiden Markram and captain Temba Bavuma steered the team to a victory few thought they could achieve.

Rabada is full of praise for the culture that Conrad has created.

“Shuks has come in and has freed us up completely. The guy has been coaching for how many years ... 20-plus years. He understands the South African system and his cricketing nous is something else,” Rabada said.

“You can see, he knows what he wants. He is not indecisive, not on the fence. He knows exactly what he wants from each player and he lets each player express themselves.

“That is a good thing, because sometimes a coach can get controlling. What that does, if someone doesn't do well, they don't hold themselves accountable because so and so told me to do YXZ.

“That is one of the things he brought to the team, that you hold yourself accountable. That is actually when you learn.”

@JohnGoliath82