Keshav Maharaj Debut, Biography, Stats, Net Worth, Wife, IPL Team, Records, Career

Keshav Maharaj is a left-arm orthodox spinner who plays for South Africa. He bowls slowly, is thoughtful and takes wickets in all three formats. He is thirty-six years old. He is a resident of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. He has taken about two hundred and eighteen Test wickets in sixty-two matches. He took a Test hat-trick against the West Indies in 2021. Before him, only one South African bowler had done so. He reached number one in the ICC ODI bowling rankings in 2023. He was part of South Africa’s historic 2025 ICC World Test Championship winning team. South Africa had waited a long time for the ICC trophy. Maharaj helped end that wait. He is one of the most influential South African spinners of the twenty-first century.

Early Life and Biography

Keshav Athmanand Maharaj was born on February 7, 1990, in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. He is now thirty-six years old. His family is of Indian origin. His great-grandfather came from Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh. But Maharaj was born and raised in South Africa. He grew up in Durban and came to South African cricket. He bats right-handed but is known for his bowling. He bowls conservative spin with his left arm. He learned to fly the ball and drift it and change its speed and angle. He came through the KwaZulu-Natal cricket system and then played for the Dolphins. He quietly and steadily worked on his craft until South Africa gave him a chance.

Domestic and International Debut

Maharaj played domestic cricket for the Dolphins and KwaZulu-Natal in South African first-class cricket. He has been a reliable and consistent performer at the domestic level for several seasons. He built his game there before coming to international cricket.

He made his Test debut for South Africa against Australia at the WACA in Perth on November 3, 2016. The WACA is a fast and bouncy pitch. It is not traditionally kind to spinners. Maharaj made his Test debut there and developed from there. He made his ODI debut against England in Southampton on May 27, 2017. He made his T20I debut against Sri Lanka on September 10, 2021. He has played in all three formats and has been a reliable part of South Africa’s bowling attack in each format.

Biography Details

Career Batting, Bowling & Fielding Stats

Batting Stats (Right-Handed Batsman)

Bowling Stats (Left-Arm Off Spin Bowler)

Fielding Stats

Career

Maharaj has played about sixty-two Tests and taken about two hundred and eighteen wickets, including nine wickets in one hundred and thirty-nine. He has played about fifty-four ODIs and taken five wickets in thirty-three, including five wickets. He has played about seventy-seven T20 matches and taken three wickets in twenty-seven. These Test figures make him one of the most successful South African spinners in modern cricket. He has taken five wickets in Tests many times. He took a Test hat-trick against West Indies in 2021. It is an extremely rare achievement. He was one of the most economical and effective bowlers for South Africa in the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup. Following that performance, he rose to number one in the ICC ODI bowling rankings. He played a key role in South Africa’s 2025 ICC World Test Championship victory. It was a historic moment for South African cricket. Maharaj was at the centre of it.

IPL Career and Teams

Maharaj made his debut in the Indian T20 League for Rajasthan Royals in 2024. He has also played in several other franchise T20 competitions around the world. He plays for Durban Super Giants in the SA20 League and was appointed captain of Pretoria Capitals ahead of SA20 Season 4. He has played for Barbados Royals in the Caribbean Premier League and Fortune Barishal in the Bangladesh Premier League. Franchises around the world want left-arm spinners who can take wickets and control runs. Maharaj does both. He has taken his skills to different conditions and different competitions and has performed consistently.

Playing Style and Strengths

Maharaj is a specialist left-arm orthodox spinner. He flies and drifts the ball. He uses subtle variations to trouble batsmen on turning and seam-aided surfaces. He bowls with patience and precision. He doesn’t bowl fast through the air, but he doesn’t need to. He deceives with flight, angle and variation. He is a right-handed lower-order batsman who makes useful cameos at times. He is an active fielder with reliable catching and good ground coverage. His bowling defines him and his bowling wins matches.

Records and Achievements

Maharaj took a Test hat-trick against West Indies in 2021. He was the second South African bowler in history to take a Test hat-trick. He reached number one in the ICC ODI bowling rankings in 2023. He has taken about two hundred and eighteen Test wickets in sixty-two matches. He has taken five wickets several times in Test cricket. He was part of South Africa’s 2025 ICC World Test Championship winning team. It was South Africa’s first major ICC trophy in a long time. Maharaj helped them win it with his bowling. He is one of the most successful South African spinners of the modern era.

Net Worth and Earnings

Based on media reports, Maharaj’s estimated net worth is around US$5 million, although the exact figures are unofficial. His earnings come from his Cricket South Africa Central contract, international match fees, SA20 contract with Durban Super Giants, Rajasthan Royals IPL contract and his participation in CPL and BPL and other global T20 leagues. He plays cricket all year round around the world and earns from each engagement.

Wife and Personal Life

Maharaj married Lerisha Maharaj in April 2022. Before that, they were together for a long time. Lerishaa is a Kathak dancer. They have a daughter. He does not talk much about his family life in public but has embraced his marriage and family with love. He is considered a leader both on and off the field. South African cricket respects him in addition to his bowling.

Next Read: Arshdeep Singh Debut, Biography, Stats, Net Worth, Wife, IPL Team, Records, Career

Conclusion

Keshav Maharaj was born in Durban of Indian origin and became one of the greatest spinners in South Africa. He took a Test hat-trick in 2021. He reached number one in ODI bowling in 2023. He won the ICC World Test Championship with South Africa in 2025. He has taken about two hundred and eighteen Test wickets. He plays T20 franchise cricket around the world and leads teams. He is thirty-six years old and still takes wickets for South Africa. Left-arm orthodox spinners who can bowl, take a hat-trick and reach number one in the world rankings are not seen very often.