Keshav Atmanand Maharaj is one of the leading slow bowlers in international cricket. The 34-year-old handsome player of Indian origin has been a permanent fixture of the South African team across the three formats. That itself says a big statement, especially in light of the fact that international cricket is so punishing and demanding.
Maharaj, as he is known in the cricketing circles, is also a big-time fan of Indian players, Virat Kohli, and likes Indian cuisine.
His favourite dish is butter chicken, and no matter which part of the world he is in, he makes it a point to savour it. “My affinity towards butter chicken is akin to that of a fish to water. I just cannot seem to have enough of that dish. So immaterial of where I am—in the Caribbean or in Australia… It’s something that I clamour of,” Maharaj says.
Maharaj is not just particular about his culinary tastes. He is much more bothered about his performances in the field against the rival teams. He feels that playing for South Africa is a big responsibility. “Of course, one enjoys representing one’s country. But for me there is a bigger aspect to this. It’s a responsibility, and one has to be more than a hundred percent committed. There is no scope to even lower one’s guard a little bit. For me, every time I step out in SA colours, I have to ensure that there is no letup or lowering of my guard. It’s something that I bear in my mind all the time,” he said.
Maharaj’s tryst with cricket began early. At the age of 8, he was inducted into the game. His initial schooling was at the Fosters School in Durban. He resorted to playing tennis and cricket and was a reasonably good player at both these games.
Thereafter, his father, Athmanand Maharaj, who himself aspired to be a cricket player for SA but could not realise his dreams, wanted his son to fulfil his burning desire. He motivated Keshav to toil harder and harder. “My father could be very pushy. He was consumed by a missionary zeal to turn me to play for South Africa. I think it was his fierce commitment that proved to be a catalyst for me to become a cricketer. There is no doubt about that,” he said.
Slowly but surely, Maharaj began to showcase his talent and proved his mettle. He earned a place in the SA under 18 for Natal province, and thereafter his performances were on the upswing. When did he become convinced that he could play for SA at the Test level? “To be fair, I was not hundred percent sure, but when I took eight wickets in a domestic match against Orange Free State—which had some very good batsmen. It was at that juncture I felt like I had it in me to play for South Africa, he added,
Maharaj finally got the coveted moment he was waiting for when he was named in the South Africa squad to play against Australia in the first Test match in Perth in 2016. In fact, he became South Africa’s first specialised spinner to play in a Test. He gave a very good account of himself by claiming three wickets in his debut match. That performance was to give him a world of confidence.
“I knew from then on that I could perform well against all the top teams in the world. It was important for me to keep my focus and work hard in order to improve. International cricket is quite demanding, and as a player, one has to keep on raising the bar. It’s only then one can hope to play for one’s country for a considerable time frame,” said Maharaj.
His best bowling figures in a Test innings were 9 for 129 against Sri Lanka in 2018. These figures remain to date as the best for a South African bowler against Sri Lanka. Slowly and surely, Maharaj, with his good batting and fielding skills, made it to the South African 50-over and T20 squads.
His zenith moment came in the 2024 T20 World Cup held in the US and the West Indies, where South Africa made it all the way to the final. In the summit clash they narrowly lost to Rohit Sharma-led India team. But that experience was one of his most cherished moments of his life. “Playing the final match against India was a dream come true for me. I could not have asked for a better setup. It’s unfortunate that we lost quite narrowly to India—by seven runs. Full marks to them for playing so well, but we were nearly there. It was a touch-and-go affair. I will soak up that experience for the rest of my life,” he signed off.
