Keshav Maharaj

Keshav Maharaj is a South African cricketer who represents the national team in Tests, One Day Internationals (ODIs), and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). He is a left-arm orthodox spin bowler and lower-order batsman. Maharaj made his debut in first-class cricket for KwaZulu-Natal in 2006 and Test debut for South Africa in November 2016.

Maharaj has achieved notable success in his international career. In July 2018, during the second Test match against Sri Lanka, he registered his best Test bowling figures of 9 for 129, which were also the best ever bowling figures in a Test innings by a visiting bowler in Sri Lanka. His figures were the second-best bowling figures by a South African in an innings of a Test after Hugh Tayfield and the best Test bowling figures by a South African since readmission to international cricket in 1991. He became the second left-arm spinner, after Rangana Herath, to claim 9 wickets in a test innings.

In October 2019, during the series against India, Maharaj took his 100th wicket in Test cricket. On 21 June 2021, he took South Africa's second ever Test hat-trick, and first since Geoff Griffin at Lord's in 1960, during the second Test match of South Africa's tour of the West Indies. In September 2021, Maharaj made his T20I debut against Sri Lanka as the team's captain and helped South Africa win the series 3-0.

Maharaj has also proven himself to be a useful batsman lower down the order for South Africa. He has scored five Test match half-centuries and has turned up 43 times for South Africa in ODIs since making his format debut in 2017. Maharaj played 10 of those matches during the high-octane 2023 World Cup. His consistent performances and remarkable achievements have solidified his place as a key player in the South African national cricket team.