Keshav Athmanand Maharaj, popularly known as Keshav Maharaj was born in Durban, Natal, South Africa on 7 February 1990. Keshav Maharaj is a left-arm orthodox bowler who has been a part of the the the South African team for the past couple of years in all the formats of cricket as their lead spinner. Keshav Maharaj is also the vice-captain of the limited-overs format. He has taken a hat-trick in Test cricket. Keshav Maharaj is also an effective lower middle order batter and also holds a record of scoring the most runs in an over in the Test cricket. Keshav Maharaj scored 26 runs in an over against Joe Root in 2019. Keshav Maharaj has also captained South Africa in an ODI match and also on his debut match in the T20I cricket.
Keshav Maharaj Early Life and Education
Keshav Maharaj started off playing cricket at an early age of just 2 years. His father coached him for few years as he was also a player in his young days and played for Natal province. In his early days, Keshav Maharaj started off as a left-arm pace bowler but later turned himself as an spin bowler. Keshav Maharaj attended Northwood Boys High School in Durban and played many matches for them and helped them in winning many matches.
Keshav Maharaj International Debut
Keshav Maharaj Test Debut – 3 November 2016 against Australia
Keshav Maharaj ODI Debut – 27 May 2017 against England
Keshav Maharaj T20I Debut – 10 September 2021 against Sri Lanka
Keshav Maharaj Career
Keshav Maharaj Domestic Career
Keshav Maharaj started off playing domestic cricket for KwaZulu-Natal and made his first-class debut in 2006.
After giving some magnificent performances, Keshav Maharaj made his place in the Dolphins squad in 2009. Maharaj was also picked up in the squad of South Africa Academy to play against Bangladesh Crickey Academy in 2010 and he took 13 wickets in just 2 matches on the tour.
In 2012-13, Keshav Maharaj smashed 481 runs in the season including 2 centuries and also took a 5-wicket haul in the season.
In 2014-15, Keshav Maharaj registered his best bowling figures in a first-class match which he broke in 2016 and took 10 wickets in the match. He won the Player of the Match award for the performance. In the complete season, Keshav Maharaj took 44 wickets.
He 2016, Keshav Maharaj picked 13 wickets in a match against Warriors and helped his team in winning the match.
In 2018, Keshav Maharaj went to England to play English County Championship and played 5 matches for Yorkshire. He took 38 wickets in 5 matches.
Keshav Maharaj was signed by Durban Heat for the inaugural season of Mzansi Super League in 2018. He was retained by Durban for the next season in 2019.
Keshav Maharaj was roped in by KwaZulu-Natal squad for the South African domestic season 2021.
Keshav Maharaj International Career
Keshav Maharaj made his International Debut for South Africa ihttps://stumpsandbails.com/n a Test match against Australia on 3rd November 2016. He picked 3 wickets in the first innings of the Test and helped his team in taking the crucial lead.
Eventually within the months, Keshav Maharaj made his place as a specialist spinner in the South African squad and took his maiden 5-wicket haul in a Test against New Zealand in March 2017.
Keshav Maharaj made his ODI debut for South Africa in the Champions Trophy 2017 in a match against England on 27th May 2017. He took 1 wicket in the match.
Keshav Maharaj picked his 50th Test wicket in a match against Bangladesh within a year of his debut in Tests.
In 2018, Keshav Maharaj took 9 wickets in first innings and registered best bowling figures by any visiting bowler in Sri Lanka. He also made a record of best bowling figures by a South African bowler in Asia. His bowling figures are the best for any South African bowler since 1991.
Keshav Maharaj was also picked up in the T20 squad for Sri Lanka series but didn’t get a chance to appear in Playing-11.
In June 2021, Keshav Maharaj became second bowler in the history of Test cricket to take a hat-trick. He achieved the record in a match against West Indies.
Keshav Maharaj was picked up in the T20I squad for a series against Sri Lanka. Keshav made his debut in T20I cricket on 10th September 2021 that too as the captain of the South African team and took his maiden T20I wicket on the first ball of the innings. Keshav Maharaj helped his team in winning the T20I series with his economical bowling skills.
Keshav Maharaj was also named in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2021.
In June 2022, Keshav Maharaj was named in the T20I squad for the series against India in India.
Keshav Maharaj Stats
In Tests, Keshav Maharaj has played 42 matches and taken 150 wickets with the best bowling figures of 9/129 in an innings and 9 five-wicket hauls. He has scored 953 runs in Tests.
In ODIs, Keshav Maharaj has played 21 matches and taken 25 wickets with the best bowling figures of 3/25 in a match.
In T20Is, Keshav Maharaj has played 8 matches and taken 6 wickets with the best bowling figures of 2/24 in a match.
Keshav Maharaj Records
· Best Bowling figures by a South African bowler in Asia.
· Best Bowling figures by a South African bowler since 1991.
· Captaining national side in maiden T20I match.
· Second bowler to take Hat-trick in Test cricket.
Keshav Maharaj Family
Keshav Maharaj was born to Athmanand Maharaj and Kanchan Mala in 1990. His father was a wicket keeper batter in his early days and was also the deputy director of Sports council in the Kwa-Zulu Natal. Keshav Maharaj’s forefathers moved to South Africa from Uttar Pradesh, India. Keshav Maharaj has 2 sisters named Nashika and Tarisma. Keshav Maharaj got married to his longtime girlfriend Lerisha Maharaj in April 2022.
Personal Information
Keshav Maharaj Full Name: Keshav Athmanand Maharaj
Keshav Maharaj Height: 178 cm
Keshav Maharaj Birthplace: Durban, Natal Province, South Africa
Keshav Maharaj Date of Birth: 7 February 1990
Keshav Maharaj Age: 31 Years
Keshav Maharaj Nationality: South African
Keshav Maharaj Religion: Hinduism
Keshav Maharaj School: Northwood Boys High School, Durban
Keshav Maharaj Marital Status: Married
Keshav Maharaj Favorite Cricketer: Rahul Dravid, Muttiah Muralitharan
Keshav Maharaj Jersey Number: 16
Keshav Maharaj Bowling style: Left-arm orthodox
Keshav Maharaj Batting Style: Left-hand bat
Keshav Maharaj Hobbies: Listening Music, Cooking, Swimming
FAQs
1. When Keshav Maharaj made his International Debut?
Keshav Maharaj made his International Debut for South Africa in a Test match against Australia on 3rd November 2016. He picked 3 wickets in the first innings.
2. How many wickets Keshav Maharaj has taken in Tests?
In Tests, Keshav Maharaj has played 42 matches and taken 150 wickets with the best bowling figures of 9/129 in an innings and 9 five-wicket hauls.
3. What record Keshav Maharaj holds in Test Cricket?
In 2018, Keshav Maharaj took 9 wickets in first innings and registered best bowling figures by any visiting bowler in Sri Lanka. He also made a record of best bowling figures by a South African bowler in Asia.
4. When Keshav Maharaj got married?
Keshav Maharaj got married to his longtime girlfriend Lerisha Maharaj in April 2022.
