South Africa’s cricketer Keshav Maharaj embarked on a significant journey on March 21, visiting the revered Ayodhya Ram Mandir. Ayodhya, steeped in Hindu tradition, holds special significance as the birthplace of Lord Rama. This pilgrimage fulfilled Maharaj’s long-standing wish, one he had expressed back in January.
During the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22, Maharaj was unable to attend as he was leading the Durban Super Giants in the SA20 tournament, a sister franchise of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Maharaj shared that his family had harboured the desire to undertake a pilgrimage to India, and finally, it came to fruition.
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Taking to his official Instagram handle, Maharaj posted a picture of himself at the Ayodhya Temple, accompanied by the caption, “Jai Shree Raam. Blessings to everyone.”
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Maharaj, known for his versatility as a left-arm orthodox spinner and lower-order batsman, represents South Africa in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. He made his international debut in November 2016 during the Test series against Australia in Perth.
A significant moment in his career arrived when he captained the national side for the first time in ODIs against Sri Lanka in September 2021. He also made his T20I debut against the same opponent in the same month, assuming the leadership role in his debut match. Notably, he etched his name in the annals of cricket history during the Test series against West Indies in June 2021, becoming the second bowler from South Africa to claim a hat-trick in Test cricket.
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Maharaj has proven himself as a formidable bowler for South Africa, tallying over 200 wickets across all formats. His prowess was evident during the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup in India, where he emerged as one of the standout performers. Finishing as Proteas’ third-highest wicket-taker, he claimed 15 wickets in 10 games, boasting an average of 24.66 and an economy rate of 4.15.
