The Mumbai Indians announced on Wednesday that they’ve onboarded Kwena Maphaka, the talented South African U-19 player, to fill in for the injured Sri Lankan bowler Dilshan Madushanka in the upcoming IPL season.
As the countdown begins for the start of the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) on March 22, the ten franchises are gearing up to showcase their top-notch performances. With the prestigious tournament just around the corner, each team is eager to deliver their finest on the field.
In a recent move, Mumbai Indians (MI) have brought Kwena Maphaka on board to replace the injured Dilshan Madushanka for the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season. Maphaka, a talented left-arm pacer, caught the eye of many during his outstanding performance at the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, where he was awarded the Player of the Tournament title. He joins MI for his base price of INR 50 Lac.
Hailing from Johannesburg, the 17-year-old Maphaka emerged as a standout player during the U19 World Cup in South Africa earlier this year. With an impressive tally of 21 wickets at an average of 9.71, he showcased his bowling prowess on the world stage. Notably, Maphaka has earned praise from none other than South African cricket legend Allan Donald.
Prior to his stint with Mumbai Indians, Maphaka has been actively involved in South African cricket circles. He has represented South Africa A and South Africa Emerging teams since last year, demonstrating his potential at various levels. Although he was signed by Paarl Royals for SA20 2023-24, Maphaka unfortunately did not get the opportunity to showcase his skills on the field.
Delving into his T20 cricket record, Maphaka has shown promise with 13 wickets in nine games at an economy rate of 6.71, which includes an impressive four-wicket haul. With such credentials, he is set to bring a fresh dynamic to the Mumbai Indians lineup, and fans are eager to witness his contribution to the team’s success in the upcoming IPL season.
“Maphaka already is capable of generating serious pace and has a very mean bouncer that is known to hurry the batters up. He debuted for the South Africa U19 team at 15 & has already played in two U19 World Cups,” said MI in a media release.
The Mumbai Indians are set to start their IPL 2024 journey against the Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, March 24th.
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