If cricket had a throne for the most underrated match-winners, Keshav Maharaj would be sitting there quietly, possibly cleaning his glasses in anticipation of tossing down another dart. After trailing Theekshana and Kuldeep Yadav, Maharaj has risen again to the summit of the ICC ODI bowling rankings. The timing was impeccable, with his five-for against Australia in Cairns being a lesson in control, guile, and plain old hard work. For a bowler who does not often get the newspaper headline, Maharaj’s ascendance is emphatic evidence that the subtleties of batting can still prosper in an era of slam-bang, explosive power plays.
A Masterclass in Spin, Not Speed
Fast bowlers may get the oohs and aahs for blowing the bails down at 145 clicks; however, rugby league convert Maharaj has dismantled batting line-ups with a different kind of intimidation – consistency! His 5/33 against Australia with the new ball was not only about wickets, but also the way he strangled a batting line-up built on aggression. Like most spinners, he piled on the dot balls until mistakes were made as a result.
This is where Maharaj differs from most modern-day ODI spinners. There is no mystery delivery or big turn. He backs his accuracy, his calmness under pressure, and his ability to out-think batters. It is a style of bowling we have come to expect from ODI cricket – back in the day, spinners used to be seen as match-winners as opposed to defensive options.
The Long Road Back to No.1
This isn’t Maharaj’s first time at No.1; he held it for a very short period in November 2023 during the World Cup. However, with over a year in the top 5, this probably isn’t a fluke! To reach the top again at 35 years of age, especially as it feels like he has been through the grind of cricket his entire career, reflects his discipline and fitness.
Incredible how Maharaj keeps getting better and better. He is firmly a veteran but continues to deliver consistently. He is not flashy, he isn’t loud, and he has no judgment; however, he never stops being effective. Most spinners hit a point of stagnation, but Maharaj has managed to evolve ever since and find ways to be consistent in an ODI world where batters hit 400+ like it is backyard cricket on a Sunday.
A Bigger Win for South African Cricket
Maharaj’s accomplishment embodies not only his own triumph but also South African cricket’s gentle renewal. Maharaj, Aiden Markram, and Temba Bavuma have all made excellent progress in the ODI batting rankings, and there seems to be some degree of team cohesion developing. There are even our dynamic youngsters coming to the fore in T20Is, like Dewald Brevis.
It is interesting to think that South Africa’s cricketing circles are generally regarded as a team that looks good in all formats of games, but, in relation to results, not too much else. At least the Proteas can rally together with Maharaj at the top of the bowling ratings. If that is not the most significant symbolism of all time, I am not too sure what is—brilliant talent sharpened by experience, flamboyant adherence to discipline, and a determination of sorts towards the future.
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