South African spinner Keshav Maharaj believes that spinners will play a crucial role in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup in 2024, in the USA and the West Indies. Keshav Maharaj highlighted that the wickets are improving and the boundaries are getting shorter.
The ninth edition of the tournament is set to commence with a match between the USA and Canada at the Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Dallas on June 1. The final match of the highly anticipated tournament will take place at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on June 29.
There Is Much Need For A Spinner In The Team – Keshav Maharaj
Keshav Maharaj stressed the increasing significance of spinners due to improving wickets and shorter boundaries, highlighting their necessity for control and variety in the team. He hoped that T20 platforms would provide greater opportunities for spin bowlers.
“Spinners will play a crucial role in the upcoming T20 World Cup. Wickets are getting better and boundaries are getting shorter. There is much need for a spinner in the team to provide control and variety,” Maharaj told PTI.
“Hopefully, these T20 platforms can give spinners even bigger role to players coming to the international stage,” he added.
Keshav Maharaj is currently leading Durban’s Super Giants in the ongoing second edition of the SA20. Maharaj will be in action next when the Super Giants face Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the final match of the event at Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday, February 10.
Have To Be Street Smart To Succeed In T20s – Keshav Maharaj
Keshav Maharaj emphasized the importance of being “street-smart” to thrive as a left-arm spinner in T20s. He expressed his desire to assist young players in mastering finger spin, hoping to inspire them to advance to higher levels in international cricket.
“You have to be street smart to succeed in T20s as a left-arm spinner. Do your homework. There is a need for any left arm or right arm or finger spinner to complement each other,” Maharaj further stated.
“If I can help the youngsters in this art of finger spin, I would like to believe that there will be some sort of motivation for them to continue with it and progress to higher level in international cricket.”
The 34-year-old bowler has played in 27 matches for South Africa in the shorter format of the game. The left-arm spinner has taken 24 wickets at an average of 27.96 and an impressive economy rate of 7.39. His last T20I match was against India in December last year.
South Africa had a strong performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup, securing second place in the group stage. However, their hopes of winning the Trophy were shattered when they lost to Australia in the semi-final. They ended their campaign without winning the title.
In the 2024 T20 World Cup, South Africa is placed in Group D alongside Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the Netherlands, and Nepal. Their campaign kicks off against Sri Lanka on June 3, followed by matches against the Netherlands and Bangladesh on June 8, and Nepal on June 14.
Also read:Â Keshav Maharaj predicts the finalists of ICC T20 World Cup 2024
