Exclusive: Keshav Maharaj Confident Proteas Can Quiet India’s Strong Batting on Sunday

Proteas spinner Keshav Maharaj is bracing for a strong India batting unit in Ahmedabad this coming Sunday as South Africa take on the hosts in their opening Super 8 fixture at the Narendra Modi Stadium. 

Maharaj believes that through working with the Proteas video analyst, they could devise a plan that could take down an Indian batting group that is destructive to spin. 

Analysis Work

Traditionally, India breeds batters that take a liking to spin bowling. Because of the conditions in the subcontinent, conditions that tend to be conducive to spin bowling, India's batters tend to grow up facing a lot of spin, and thus tend to have a better understanding of the techniques and skills needed to thrive against spin bowling. 

Now, this tends to make it very difficult for touring opposition spinners to find success in India. 

Maharaj, a South African spinner, knows this feat well, as he has been on multiple tours to India and has been on the receiving end of India's dominance over spin bowling. 

On Sunday, the slow left-arm orthodox will face up to the India batters once again, as South Africa are set to lock horns against the co-hosts of the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup. 

The two sides, having finished the group stage of the competition unbeaten, will face each other in their opening fixture of the Super 8 stage of the showpiece event. 

A lot will be at stake on Sunday, a feat that makes Maharaj's contribution even more important. 

Maharaj, in an exclusive interview with SportsBoom, says he is aware of India's strengths against spin and that, with the help of the analyst, they could devise a plan that could keep the hosts quiet. 

"The podium that was set up for was getting through to the Super 8s. It was our first part and our first box to sort of tick. It was an important one for us. I'm really happy with how it's gone from a team perspective," Maharaj told SportsBoom.co.za.  

"We've got a really, really strong group. So, I'm looking forward to the clash against India. Obviously, we play India this Sunday, and (we all know that) spin is not foreign to them. It's almost something that they do on a daily basis." 

"So, obviously, (I will need to be hard at work) trying to find avenues to combat their batters and, through the analysis work that we do, hopefully we can come up with good plans that can help on the day."

Maharaj's form

Maharaj has been in fine form in the shortest format of the game this year. Right from the start of the year, when he captained the Pretoria Capitals in the fourth season of the SA20, Maharaj has been leading from the front. 

The 36-year-old went on to lead the Pretoria Capitals to their second-ever SA20 final, and did so by taking wickets and being a good leader on the field with his field placements and bowling changes. 

Maharaj says that his time with the Pretoria Capitals, where he worked with the former India captain Sourav Ganguly and former South Africa captain Shaun Pollock, was fruitful as he looked to gather momentum for the T20 World Cup. 

"Just to date back to the SA20, it's been a privilege to obviously lead the Pretoria Capital side. It was my first year as a Pretoria Capitals player, and being in a new setup," Maharaj reflected.  

"I had amazing people around me, with the support staff and a great head coach (Ganguly), a legend of the game. Obviously, our South African legends, who, from a support staff point of view, including Shaun Pollock, were there as well." 

"So, all of that made that transition very smooth for me. I had some really world-class performers around me, and guys who are leaders within the game."

"So, that made my job a lot easier at times, but I am very grateful. Obviously, I was disappointed not to go the whole way and fall at the final, but like I said, very grateful for how the year has gone."

Thus far in the T20 World Cup, Maharaj has returned figures of 0/28, 1/27 and 1/24 against Canada, Afghanistan and New Zealand, respectively.

The Super 8 fixture between South Africa and India is scheduled to get underway at 3:30 SAST on Sunday, 22 February.