Keshav Maharaj, his wife Lerisha and dad Athmanand Maharaj in Mumbai, India recently during the ICC World Cup cricket tournament.
Proteas spinner Keshav Maharaj's rise to the top of the ICC ODI bowling rankings is a testament to his exceptional performance in recent matches.
His father, Athmanand Maharaj, a retired Durban school teacher, expressed immense pride in his son's achievement.
As the Proteas battle it out in the semi-final against Australia, they aim to make history by securing their first final berth.
On Tuesday, experts identified Maharaj, Quinton de Kock, and Marco Jansen as key players, the ICC's announcement elevating Maharaj to the top of the rankings and displacing India's Mohammed Siraj.
Earlier in the month, Durban-born Maharaj occupied the second position but climbed to the top after claiming seven wickets in three matches, including a four-wicket haul against New Zealand in Pune. His impactful performance against India, where he returned figures of 1-30, showcased his bowling prowess. In the final league-stage game against Afghanistan, Maharaj secured two wickets.
Despite Siraj's six-wicket haul in India's last three matches, Maharaj's consistent performance enabled him to lead the rankings, with only three rating points separating the two. Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj's compatriots, occupy two of the remaining spots in the top five.
Athmanand Maharaj, who recently returned from supporting his son in India, expresses his pride in Maharaj’s well-deserved ranking. Reflecting on Keshav's journey, Athmanand highlights his son's determination and resilience, particularly overcoming an Achilles injury in March.
“Despite expectations of a nine-month recovery, Keshav returned to the field in less than six months, driven by his goal to participate in the World Cup. He is humble, relentless with his training and focuses on contributing to South Africa's success, whether through batting or bowling,” said Athmanand.
The proud father emphasized the significance of this journey for their family with Indian roots.
“Keshav's dream of playing in India has surpassed expectations, and the local Indian community admires his spirituality, evident in his pre-game acknowledgments of God,” said Athmanand.
Athmanand, an erstwhile cricketer and physical education teacher himself, recounts how he guided Keshav toward cricket from a young age.
“Starting with backyard cricket practice, I was a strict mentor, pushing Keshav to train with dedication. Keshav's early exposure to higher age groups, playing with 13-year-olds when he was just 11, led to his debut with the Dolphins at the age of 16,” said Athmanand.