WATCH: SA prodigy gets a spot in Indian Premier League span
|Published
Ace: Kwena Maphaka, 19, Picture: @mipaltan on X
South African teen sensation Kwena Maphaka will get a break from his matric studies to play in the Indian Premier League.
It’s been a crazy year for the 17-year-old left-arm paceman.
The Joburger starred for South Africa at the recently Under-19 Cricket World Cup - finishing as Player of the Series and taking a tournament-high 21 wickets.
मुंबईत स्वागत आहे, Kwena! 🏚️💙
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) March 21, 2024
Can't wait to see you bowl 'em over with your jaffas & your talent in the Blue & Gold 🔥#OneFamily #MumbaiIndians pic.twitter.com/o5hmpOdOGw
Earlier this week, he showed his ice-cold nerves to bowl the Lions’ Super Over in their T20 Challenge win over Western Province at the Wanderers.
Maphaka, who is in matric at St Stithians in Johannesburg, has been named in the Mumbai Indians squad as replacement for Sri Lanka ace Dilshan Madushanka, who has been ruled out of the tournament due to injury.
The teenager will get to share a dressing room with bowling coach Lasith Malinga and India yster Jasprit Bumrah, a player he looks up to.
Paltan's pyaar for the squad, Maphaka's touch-down & practice at the 🏟️... ➡️ https://t.co/uUVKcp9xs6
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) March 21, 2024
Check out the full version of #MIDaily on our website & MI App now! #OneFamily #MumbaiIndians pic.twitter.com/2Cd9b3gdOy
Maphaka will be the third South African in the Mumbai Indians team. He is joined by the other South African cricket prodigies in Dewald Brevis and Gerald Coetzee.