Keshav Athmanand Maharaj

International career

Keshav Maharaj, a left-arm orthodox spin bowler, has built a strong international career. Below is a breakdown of his key achievements by year.

2016

• Maharaj debuted for South Africa in Test cricket against Australia on November 3, 2016. He took three wickets in the match.
• Maharaj played his first One Day International (ODI) match against England on May 27, 2017.

2017

• On March 10, 2017, Maharaj took his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket against New Zealand. He became the seventh South African spinner to do this against New Zealand.
• In May 2017, he was named International Newcomer of the Year at Cricket South Africa's annual awards.
• Maharaj reached 50 Test wickets during the first Test against Bangladesh in October 2017.

2018

• In July 2018, during a Test match against Sri Lanka, Maharaj recorded his best-ever figures: 9 wickets for 129 runs. This became the best bowling performance by a visiting bowler in Sri Lanka and the best by a South African in Asia.
• Maharaj was named to South Africa’s T20I squad for a match against Sri Lanka in August 2018 but did not play.

2019

• In October 2019, during a series against India, Maharaj took his 100th Test wicket.

2020

• Maharaj joined South Africa’s squad for the limited-overs series against England in November 2020.

2021

• On June 21, 2021, Maharaj took a hat-trick during the second Test match against the West Indies. He became only the second South African bowler to achieve this.
• Maharaj debuted as South Africa’s captain in T20Is against Sri Lanka on September 10, 2021. He took a wicket on his first ball in T20Is and led the team to a 3-0 series victory.

2023

• Maharaj ruptured his Achilles tendon in March 2023 while playing against West Indies. By September 2023, he made a quicker-than-expected recovery and was selected for the 2023 Cricket World Cup in India.
• Maharaj led the spin attack for South Africa during the World Cup. His economy rate was 4.15, and he played an important role in a group stage win over Pakistan, forming a crucial tenth-wicket partnership with Tabraiz Shamsi.
• In November 2023, Maharaj reached the top position in the ICC ODI bowling rankings.

2024

• In May 2024, Maharaj was named in South Africa’s squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Maharaj's career shows his dedication and contribution to South African cricket. He has played an important role in both Test and limited-overs formats.

Indian Premier League

Keshav Maharaj, the left-arm spinner from South Africa, has had some involvement in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the past. Here's a look at his IPL history by year.

Keshav Maharaj did not receive any bids during the IPL 2025 auction. Although he registered with a base price of Rs 75 lakhs, he will not participate in the 2025 season.

Domestic career

Keshav Maharaj started his domestic career at 16, debuting for KwaZulu-Natal in the 2006–07 season. In 2009-10, he joined the Dolphins team. In 2010, Maharaj played for South Africa A during their tour of Bangladesh, which resulted in him taking 13 wickets in two four-day matches. He also bowled well in T20s, with figures of 4 for 12 in one match.

The 2012–13 season proved to be strong for Maharaj with the bat. He achieved 481 first-class runs at an average of 48.1, which included two centuries. He also performed well against Northerns, with a score of 114 runs, which secured 5 wickets in one match.

Maharaj continued to impress in 2014–15. Playing for Dolphins against Cape Cobras, he recorded match figures of 10 for 145, which earned him the man of the match award. He finished the season with 44 wickets at an average of 26.18.

In the 2016–17 season, Maharaj took career-best figures of 7 for 89 and 6 for 68 in a match against the Warriors. He also contributed with both bat and ball, with a score of 72 runs and 13 wickets in a match.

Maharaj played for Durban Heat in the Mzansi Super League T20 in 2018 and 2019. In 2019, he had a successful season with Yorkshire, where he took 38 wickets in the County Championship. He was named in KwaZulu-Natal's squad for the 2021–22 season.

In February 2023, Maharaj joined Middlesex for the County Championship and Vitality T20 Blast but had to withdraw due to an Achilles tendon injury. He also played for Fortune Barishal in the 2024 Bangladesh Premier League.

Records and achievements

Keshav Maharaj has received several awards and set key records in his cricket career.

Awards:

• In May 2017, Maharaj was named International Newcomer of the Year at the Cricket South Africa Awards.
• In 2024, he won the Men's Players' Player of the Year award at the Cricket South Africa Awards.

Records:

• As of August 2024, Maharaj has taken 171 wickets in Test matches for South Africa. He broke the previous record of 170 wickets set by Hugh Tayfield, who played 49 matches for South Africa from 1949 to 1960. Maharaj surpassed this record after 64 years.
In 2018, during a Test match against Sri Lanka in Colombo, Maharaj set a record with 9 wickets for 129 runs in the first innings.

Personal life

Keshav Maharaj is known for his achievements on the field, but his personal life also grabs attention. His story includes his family life, finances, lifestyle, some controversies, and the support of his growing fan base.