Birthday special: Keshav Maharaj – Unknown facts about South African spinner
Keshav Maharaj has been a part of the South African cricketing setup since 2016. The left-arm spinner has featured in 50 Tests, 44 ODIs and 27 T20Is for the Proteas. Maharaj has scalped a total of 237 wickets and nine five-wicket hauls in international cricket. As the South African spinner turns 34 today, let us take a look at some of the unknown facts about the spinner.
1. Keshav Maharaj is of Indian origin
Well, you would have guessed this from his name. If you haven’t, then know that Keshav Maharaj is of Indian origin. Both his father as well as his grandfather were professional cricketers, but his father could not make it big in the sport because of apartheid, which was prevalent at that time.
2. Kiran More’s prediction about Keshav Maharaj
Former Indian cricketer Kiran More in 1992 had predicted that Keshav Maharaj would go on to become a spinner at the international level, and the prediction has turned out to be true. More is a friend of Keshav’s father Athmanand and he made the prediction when he had visited the Maharaj household during a South Africa tour.
3. Keshav Maharaj was first a pace bowler
Keshav Maharaj started his cricketing career as a pace bowler. But then, he tried out spin in the nets, and after that, has not looked back.
4. Keshav Maharaj loves food and has even been a part of some cooking shows
Keshav Maharaj loves food. In fact, in his early days, the left-arm spinner did not focus on his fitness because of his love for food. This turned out to be serious, as he was not picked in the South African U19 squad because of his lack of fitness. He later slogged out to improve his fitness levels after this ouster from the South African U19 team.
Maharaj also revealed that if he had not become a professional cricketer, he would have made a good chef. Maharaj has also featured in some cooking shows. Apart from that, the left-arm spinner is also an avid food blogger.
