Devotional music being performed at a cricket floor is a rarity however when Keshav Athmanand Maharaj strides in, the in-stadia DJ will get a particular request to play one track: “Ram Siya Ram Jai Jai Ram.” And the request comes from none apart from the South Africa left-arm spinner himself, prompting India skipper KL Rahul to ask him ‘everytime you enter, they play that track’ in the course of the current ODI collection in South Africa.
In the Cape Town Test, as Maharaj entered to bat, Virat Kohli was seen standing with folded arms.”It was obviously something I put forward to the media lady and requested that song to be played,” Maharaj, the Durban Supergiants skipper within the upcoming SA20, advised PTI throughout an interview. (Sports Success Story: From Shadows To Stardom, Mohammed Shami’s Inspirational Journey To Cricket Triumph)
For Maharaj, the Durban-born cricketer of Indian origin, Lord Ram is his biggest energy.”For me, God’s been my greatest blessing and if I get an opportunity it’s the least I can do and it gets you in the zone and get that respect from other players. Respecting religion and culture is important but it’s a nice feeling to hear ‘Ram Siya Ram’ being played in the background,” Maharaj stated.
Virat Kohli gifted a signed Test jersey to Keshav Maharaj.
 A ravishing gesture by the King  pic.twitter.com/o2GUVJ6Tj8
 Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 4, 2024
Talking concerning the second version of SA20, the skipper is assured that his crew would do properly.”We have a balanced squad, excited to see boys hitting the straps. We saw really good wickets last year,” Maharaj stated. (MS Dhoni’s Hilarious Speech At Rishabh Pant’s Sisters’ Engagement Goes Viral – WATCH)
Will we see him bowling extra within the Powerplay? “It’s a case of assessing conditions. If conditions allow me to do that, I will bowl, if not then will assess when to bowl but be a good leader on field and make good decisions tactically. Hopefully, team can feed off that and results will take care of itself,” the eloquent Maharaj stated.
With 158 wickets from 50 Tests, Maharaj is maybe the simplest gradual bowler that Proteas have had for the reason that finish of apartheid. Does he at instances really feel that he is not celebrated sufficient in South Africa as he performs most Tests in situations that does not swimsuit his bowling? A living proof, he did not get a single over within the Newlands Test towards India.
“Unfortunately, you live in a world where fast bowlers are highlighted and we have had some amazing greats to have played the game and I am here to do my job and whether I am celebrated or not doesn’t really make a difference to me,” he calmly replied.
“I want to contribute in a positive way for the team and if the team goes in right way, then I have done my job.” Maharaj remains to be the old fashioned spinner who depends on flight to purchase wickets reasonably than simply bowling wicket-to-wicket stuff. Where does he get that get that confidence from? “I trust my preparation and it has been years and years of hard work. The way the game is evolving you also need to evolve your mindset.”
” I trust my processes and analysis work that I do but most importantly because of all hard yards I have done and it’s not always going to pay off but obviously looks good and it’s starting to pay off,” he concluded.
