Mumbai Indians sign 17-year-old bowler, who once declared himself as a better bowler than Bumrah, for injured Dilshan Madushanka
Mumbai Indians have announced the signing of Kwena Maphaka as a replacement for Sri Lankan fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka, who has been ruled out of IPL 2024 due to an injury.
Maphaka has joined the five-time champions squad, and he is one of the youngest players, both domestic and overseas, to become a part of the Indian Premier League. It seems Mark Boucher, who hails from South Africa, played a significant role in MI’s new signing.
Boucher is the head coach of the Hardik Pandya-led team.
South Africa’s 17-year-old Kwena Maphaka was magnificent at the U19 World Cup earlier this year. He was named the Player of the Tournament for taking 21 wickets. The left-arm pacer’s 21 scalps are the highest ever by a seamer in one edition of the U19 World Cup.
He led South Africa’s attack as they made it to the semi-finals but lost to India. The 17-year-old has played for South Africa A and South Africa Emerging teams. He will share the dressing room with the likes of Lasith Malinga and Jasprit Bumrah, who are renowned for their breathtaking bowling.
He is studying in his final year of high school. Apart from cricket, Maphaka has also enjoyed success in tennis and hockey.
The youngster once called himself a batter bowler than Jasprit Bumrah during the U19 World Cup. He had copied Bumrah’s trademark, but I don’t know the celebration style. However, he revealed that his brother couldn’t come up with a celebration style after he had been urged to do so before the U19 World Cup. His brother said that he didn’t know, and from there, the seamer picked up, I don’t know,” celebration.’”
Maphaka also had a message for Jasprit Bumrah. “Jasprit, you’re a great bowler. Hopefully, I am better than you.”
Maphaka will share the dressing with another young South African star, Dewald Brevis. Meanwhile, Mumbai had signed Dilshan for INR 4.6 crore in the auction.
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