Keshav Maharaj

Keshav Maharaj

South Africa
2016 - 2026
  • Date of Birth 1990-2-7
  • Role bowler
  • Batting Style right-hand bat
  • Bowling Style slow left-arm orthodox
Debut Matches
Format Match Date
TEST SA vs AUS 2016-11-03
ODI ENG vs SA 2017-05-27
T20 SA vs SL 2021-09-10

Recent Performances

New Zealand vs South Africa
2026-03-17
Batting: -
Bowling: 1/45
New Zealand vs South Africa
2026-03-15
Batting: -
Bowling: 2/25
South Africa vs New Zealand
2026-03-04
Batting: 1*
Bowling: 0/33
West Indies vs South Africa
2026-02-26
Batting: -
Bowling: 0/43
South Africa vs India
2026-02-22
Batting: -
Bowling: 3/24
New Zealand vs South Africa
2026-02-14
Batting: -
Bowling: 1/24
South Africa vs Afghanistan
2026-02-11
Batting: -
Bowling: 1/27
South Africa vs Canada
2026-02-09
Batting: -
Bowling: 0/28
India vs South Africa
2026-02-04
Batting: -
Bowling: -
West Indies vs South Africa
2026-01-31
Batting: -
Bowling: 1/38

Batting Statistics

Matches 62
Innings 95
Runs 1334
Average 15.33
Strike Rate 60.71
Highest Score 84
100s 0
50s 6
Fours 153
Sixes 29
Catches 23

Bowling Statistics

Matches 62
Innings 106
Wickets 218
Average 29.22
Economy 3.1
Strike Rate 56.4
Best Figure 9/129
4 Wickets 6
5 Wickets 12
Balls Bowled 12308
Runs Conceded 6370

Batting Statistics

Matches 56
Innings 31
Runs 324
Average 14.08
Strike Rate 80.39
Highest Score 40
100s 0
50s 0
Fours 37
Sixes 4
Catches 13

Bowling Statistics

Matches 56
Innings 55
Wickets 73
Average 31.12
Economy 4.72
Strike Rate 39.5
Best Figure 5/33
4 Wickets 3
5 Wickets 1
Balls Bowled 2885
Runs Conceded 2272

Batting Statistics

Matches 51
Innings 18
Runs 104
Average 9.45
Strike Rate 87.39
Highest Score 41
100s 0
50s 0
Fours 6
Sixes 5
Catches 15

Bowling Statistics

Matches 51
Innings 51
Wickets 51
Average 26.66
Economy 7.82
Strike Rate 20.4
Best Figure 3/24
4 Wickets 0
5 Wickets 0
Balls Bowled 1043
Runs Conceded 1360

Batting Statistics

Matches 155
Innings 91
Runs 1058
Average 16.53
Strike Rate 86.22
Highest Score 50*
100s 0
50s 1
Fours 91
Sixes 26
Catches 52

Bowling Statistics

Matches 155
Innings 152
Wickets 205
Average 29.25
Economy 4.73
Strike Rate 37
Best Figure 5/33
4 Wickets 8
5 Wickets 3
Balls Bowled 7604
Runs Conceded 5998

Batting Statistics

Matches 215
Innings 105
Runs 814
Average 13.79
Strike Rate 105.3
Highest Score 45*
100s 0
50s 0
Fours 69
Sixes 27
Catches 65

Bowling Statistics

Matches 215
Innings 205
Wickets 187
Average 27.75
Economy 7.1
Strike Rate 23.4
Best Figure 4/15
4 Wickets 1
5 Wickets 0
Balls Bowled 4385
Runs Conceded 5191
A left-arm spinner from Northwood Boys High, the alma mater of Shaun Pollock, Keshav Maharaj emerged at a time when South Africa began to take spin seriously. For several seasons in the mid 2010s, spinners were among the leading wicket-takers in South Africa's first-class competition. Maharaj was among them in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons and was rewarded with an international call-up the following summer.
In his youth, Maharaj was a pace bowler, whose father played for Natal B during segregation years. He turned to spin on a whim in the nets one afternoon at school. He found that it worked and stuck to it. Maharaj's secret was his accuracy. At the Dolphins, he was able to combine that with an ability to take wickets at key moments.
During the opening first-class match of the 2016-17 season, Maharaj picked up 13 for 157, and was then told he would be on South Africa's Test tour to Australia. Maharaj debuted at the WACA, an unusual place for a spinner, given the conditions, but did a remarkable job. In an innings in which he had to hold one end when Dale Steyn was injured, Maharaj bowled well enough to allow the other two seamers to be rotated at the other side. He took 3 for 56 in the first innings, four in the match, and scored an unbeaten 41 to show great promise for the future.
Firdose Moonda