17-year-old Kwena Maphaka has become the third-youngest overseas player in IPL history today (March 27), making his debut for Mumbai Indians against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
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Maphaka was signed by MI as a replacement for Dilshan Madushanka, who pulled out of the tournament with a hamstring injury. The teenage left-arm fast bowler, who is still in his final year of school in South Africa, shot to fame in the U19 World Cup earlier this year, where he finished as the leading wicket-taker. He took 21 wickets in six games at an average of 9.71. Nobody has ever taken more wickets in a single edition of the tournament.
He was particularly notable for the prodigious movement through the air he was able to generate in the tournament, something he will be able to hone in a squad that also boasts Jasprit Bumrah, Gerald Coetzee and Hardik Pandya, as well as bowling coach Lasith Malinga.
South Africa players awarded Player of the Tournament in men’s U19 World Cups:
2010 Dominic Hendricks
2014 Aiden Markram
2022 Dewald Brevis
2024 Kwena MaphakaA sensational tournament for the 17-year-old quick 🇿🇦#U19WorldCup2024 pic.twitter.com/KhmnOIgVN2
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) February 12, 2024
The 2024 U19 World Cup wasn’t Maphaka’s first. He also played in the 2022 edition, when he was just 15-years-old. He took seven wickets in three matches during that campaign for South Africa.
In an interview with ESPNCricinfo during the 2024 U19 World Cup, Maphaka said: “I’ve got quicker but the main thing I’ve worked on is to have control with pace. If you are just fast, you are going to get hit everywhere, but if you’ve got control, there’s something special.”
Although he was signed to Paarl Royals for the 2024 SA20, his U19 commitments meant Maphaka wasn’t able to take part in the auction. He made his first-class debut for South Africa A against Sri Lanka A last year, and played his debut first-class game in South Africa’s domestic circuit last December. Those are his only two first-class caps to date.
He has, however, played nine T20 games before making his IPL debut, in which he’s taken 13 wickets at an average of 16.93, and an economy rate of 6.71.
