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Cape Town - Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis has called Kagiso Rabada the "perfect bowler" after the 21-year-old steered South Africa to victory in the second Test at Newlands on Thursday.
Rabada, who was named man of the match, took 10 wickets for 92 as the Proteas defeated the Sri Lankans by 282 runs.
The Proteas, with the series wrapped up already, could rest a few of their senior players in the third Test at Wanderers next week, especially with a bumper 2017/18 season looming ahead.
But Du Plessis, although aware of Rabada's value to the side in all three formats, does not feel that resting the fast bowler for the third Test will be beneficial.
"Only if there is any injury concerns," said Du Plessis.
"If the medical staff thinks he needs it (the rest), but if he doesn't need it then I would say 'no'.
"I understand the importance of resting players, yes there is space for that, but I don’t think KG is there. He has had a good break before this Test match and every fast bowler needs to bowl, before this Test match KG was double the bowler he is and he’ll want to play the next Test."
Rabada, who has taken 14 wickets so far in the Test series, delighted Du Plessis after taking his fifth five-wicket haul in just 13 Tests.
"Amazing bowling performance from KG (Rabada)," said Du Plessis.
"As a captain, I'm really happy to have him in my team; he's a guy that works really hard and never has any dramas.
"He's the perfect bowler for a captain; he does exactly everything I've asked him to do.
"If I say I want him to bowl a thousand short balls in a row - he'll do it. That's the kind of bowler he is.
"He is an extreme talent for South Africa. He's going to be very valuable to us in the future and we have to make sure he plays a lot of cricket for us."
