Durban - Durban spin bowler Keshav Maharaj will be jetting off to Australia on Sunday for his first Test with the Proteas with a very big spring in his step.
The 26-year-old has just taken the best figures of his career against the Warriors when the Dolphins took the first of two wins from two starts in the Sunfoil Series, and has been selected to the national team
Speaking on Friday at a practice session at Kingsmead Stadium, the quietly spoken Maharaj said he was very excited to get the call-up to the national team and is determined to prove his mettle.
“There was a spring in my step, it is so overwhelming and I am very excited. I think it will only become real once I am on the plane,” he said.
His father, Athmanand, played cricket for the Natal Cricket B team and Maharaj started playing cricket at the age of 3.
“I remember being in the back garden with my dad, who was gifted in cricket, football and athletics. I played football and cricket but decided to go with cricket when I was about 11,” said Maharaj.
He attributes much of his success to his father teaching him the values of dedication and hard work, as well as a five-month stint with Cuckfield Cricket Club in Sussex, England, which he describes as a “life-changing” experience.
He said he lacked confidence as a “fat kid who didn’t want to take his shirt off”.
“My skill was there, but my physique needed work. When I went to the UK, I changed my diet and lost 17kg. I learnt a lot more about myself. It made me more headstrong and I became very disciplined.”
While he now follows a healthy diet, he enjoys cooking, with butter chicken being his favourite dish to prepare.
“I like cooking different types of meals but with a healthy twist.”
He also admitted to “being a hopeless romantic” who enjoys walks on the beach and movies (sorry, he’s taken), as well as taking his “gentle giant” German shepherd, Rio, for walks.
He trains for hours every day whether it’s in the nets, at the gym, or out running, while he is also studying towards a BCom degree in marketing and management.
“To go somewhere in life, you have got to work hard. I train every day during the week and as we normally play matches on Sunday, I take a break on Saturday. As I’ve got older, I’ve also become smarter at managing myself.
Maharaj is a “petrolhead”, with his dream car being a Porsche. When he is not busy on the pitch, he enjoys playing football socially and is a proud Manchester United fan.
It’s also clear he is very much a family person.
“I love spending time with my family, especially my 2-year-old niece. I am also quite a spiritual person and go to temple. My parents are my role models. My mom is such a humble person who keeps me grounded,” he said.
Independent on Saturday