South African pace bowler Kagiso Rabada says he hopes his time at Kent will help him become a better player.

Rabada turned 21 just last month and despite only bursting onto the scene 18 months ago, he has already six Test caps, 16 T20I and 20 ODI appearances, the last of which last Friday saw him take 3-31 as South Africa lost against the West Indies in Bridgetown.

Rabada rose to prominence at the under-19 World Cup two years ago and has already claimed his national record for First Class match figures (14-105) and become the youngest South African to take 10 wickets in a Test, as well as claiming 6-16 – including a hat-trick – on his ODI debut.

Despite the weighty expectations, he said: “I don’t feel under any pressure. I am just here to play cricket.

“Hopefully, I will leave a better player for the experience of playing in different conditions and on different surfaces. I am looking forward to getting started.”

Rabada is set to make his bow in the televised NatWest T20 Blast South Group against Sussex Sharks on Thursday (6.30pm) and said: “I have done a lot of travelling but I am ready to go and good to play if I’m in the team.”

Rabada arrived in Canterbury on Tuesday when Kent’s Championship clash with Derbyshire was brought to a premature close by heavy rain.

He admitted: “My initial impressions were that it was overcast and raining but I was expecting it. Players told me what it might be like. It’s cool, though, it’s not like I’ve never seen rain.

“The culture is different here. Back home, four-day games you’ll see at most 20 people in the stands, here you have 1,500 in the stands. People love their cricket here.

"Every player made me feel welcome. I know there are a lot of good players here, I have played against Sam Billings and he was in the IPL with some South Africans who told me he’s a good guy.

“I am the overseas pro and will try my best to try and help the team win games and hopefully do well. I have a good feeling.”

Rabada is set to feature in at least seven T20s and ODC games as well as the Championship clash with Sussex at Tunbridge Wells from July 17 before leaving to join up with South Africa before their home Test series against Tom Latham’s New Zealand in August.