Keshav Maharaj

A traditional orthodox left-arm spinner, Keshav Maharaj, has emerged as the frontline spinner for the Proteas in the longest format. A committed cricketer, Maharaj provides stability to the South African set-up, which comprises world-class fast bowlers. Maharaj is also a useful lower-order batter who has the ability to chip in with some crucial runs at important junctures of the match.

Having made his first-class debut for KwaZulu-Natal in 2006-07, he shifted to the Dolphins in 2009-10. Maharaj was part of the South Africa Academy squad in April-May 2010 and took 13 wickets in four-day matches against the Bangladesh Cricket Board Academy. He was also part of the South Africa A team against Bangladesh A in 2010-11.

The Indian-origin South Africa-born Maharaj was part of the Cuckfield squad in the 2013 Sussex Premier League and signed as a professional for Nelson in the 2015 Lancashire League.

He was also part of the KwaZulu-Natal team for the 2015 Africa T20 Cup. However, Maharaj has emerged as more of a red ball bowler who has the ability to control the game with his guile and ability to hit the right areas on a consistent basis.

Keshav Maharaj Test Career

After a brilliant time with the ball in the domestic season, Keshav Maharaj was included in the South African squad for the tour of Australia in 2016. He made his debut on November 3, 2016, in Perth and, since then, has gone on to establish himself as the primary spinner in the Test team.

Maharaj was expected to make a mark in subcontinental conditions but had a torrid time in India when the Proteas were thrashed 3-0 in the 2019-20 Test series. Despite bagging 6 wickets in 2 matches, Maharaj couldn’t provide the much-needed balance which he did in Australia and New Zealand.

However, given his class and control, he has been a part of the Test squad in the past years. Maharaj has also played some gutsy knocks in the lower order and has provided the balance which South Africa has been lacking in the last few years.

In April 2021, Maharaj was named in KwaZulu-Natal’s squad for the 2021–22 cricket season in South Africa. A few months later, in June 2021, he achieved a remarkable feat by taking South Africa’s second-ever Test hat-trick during a match against the West Indies, becoming the first South African to do so since Geoff Griffin in 1960.

Maharaj was a part of the South African side that won the historic Test series in India in 2025. Although he didn’t contribute much on that tour.

Keshav Maharaj ODI Career

After an impressive run in the longest format of the game, the South African spinner Keshav Maharaj made his ODI debut on May 27, 2017, against England at The Rose Bowl, Southampton.

He was later added to their 2017 ICC Champions Trophy squad. Maharaj had a sensational time with the ball in New Zealand and England and proved his worth, bagging 15 and 17 wickets in two overseas tours in 2016/17.

In September 2021, Maharaj led South Africa for the first time in ODIs against Sri Lanka.

An injury scar halted Maharaj’s sporting career when he ruptured his Achilles tendon during a match against the West Indies in March 2023. Fresh from recovery, Maharaj was named in the South African squad for the 2023 Cricket World Cup in September 2023.

Throughout the coveted tournament, Maharaj led South Africa’s spin contingent and was one of the most economical bowlers in the tournament with an economy rate of 4.16. On top of that, he also contributed with the bat, including a tenth-wicket partnership with Tabraiz Shamsi, leading to a win against Pakistan during a group stage fixture at Chennai. 

After the exploits at the ODI championships in November 2023, he became the number one bowler in ICC ODI bowling rankings.

On August 19, 2025, Keshav Maharaj achieved his maiden ODI five-wicket haul (fifer) against Australia in Cairns, finishing with remarkable figures of 5/33 in 10 overs.

Keshav Maharaj T20I Career

Remarkably, Keshav Maharaj’s cricketing journey took an unexpected turn when he was not only selected for South Africa's 2021 T20 World Cup squad, despite having never played a T20 International, but also given the responsibility to lead. Making his T20I debut on September 10, 2021, against Sri Lanka in Colombo (RPS), he made an immediate impact by claiming a wicket on his very first ball of the format. 

Maharaj has also led the Proteas in the shortest format, before being named Aiden Markram’s deputy for the 2026 T20 World Cup. 

(As of February 2026)