South African spinner Keshav Maharaj has expressed his eagerness for a showdown between the Proteas and India in the final of the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup. Following a formidable performance by both teams in the 2023 50-over World Cup, where India secured a runners-up finish and South Africa finished second in the group stage, Maharaj is hopeful for an electrifying encounter in the T20 format.
In an interview with Sports Tak, Maharaj shared his excitement for the T20 World Cup 2024.
“We enter the tournament with the goal of winning the World Cup. We’re optimistic about correcting our previous outcomes. A South Africa vs. India final would be fantastic. Post the round-robin stage of the 2023 ODI World Cup, we heard locals in India expressing their desire for a South Africa-India final,” he said.
Reflecting on the progress of South Africa’s SA20 league, where Maharaj is currently captaining Durban’s Super Giants, he highlighted the league’s rapid growth in just its second season.
The spinner expressed his optimism about the league matching the standards of the highly successful Indian Premier League (IPL) in the years to come.
“The standards in the South African league are impressive, evident in the international players participating across various cricket styles. In terms of skills, we are approaching the level of the IPL. This is only our second year in the league,” he added.
The Super Giants, under Maharaj’s leadership, have showcased commendable performances in the SA20 2024, becoming the first team to qualify for the playoffs with six wins from eight outings, currently topping the table.
Keshav Maharaj wants to visit the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya
Away from cricket, Maharaj, known for his devotion to Lord Hanuman and Lord Ram, expressed his desire to visit the newly built Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Despite scheduling constraints preventing him from attending the inauguration, Maharaj hopes to make the pilgrimage in the future.
“Regrettably, our schedule prevents us from attending the inauguration, but I am certain that in the future, I would love to visit and experience the Ayodhya temple. Perhaps, soon, we can plan for it, maybe with the Lucknow franchise. My family has always dreamed of going on a pilgrimage to India, so it would be a wonderful family trip,” he said.
On the day of the temple inauguration, Maharaj sent his heartfelt wishes on Instagram. In a viral video, he expressed his wish for peace and harmony.
“Greetings to everyone. I send my warmest regards to the Indian community in South Africa. Wishing for peace, harmony, and spiritual enlightenment for all. Jai Shri Ram,” the left-arm spinner said.
Maharaj also requested for the song ‘Siya Ram’ to be played every time he went out to bat in the series against India. He explained that it was his way of expressing gratitude to God.
“I recommended to the media lady to play that song. God has been my greatest blessing, offering guidance and opportunities. It’s the minimum I can do, and it also helps me in getting into my zone. Walking onto the field with ‘Ram Siya Ram’ playing in the background is a delightful feeling,” he added.