Keshav Maharaj expects spinners to play 'crucial role' at T20 World Cup

South Africa’s ace spinner Keshav Maharaj recently came forward to talk of how spinners could play a crucial role for the Proteas in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. It is worth noting that the marquee tournament will be co-hosted by the West Indies and the USA, and after reaching the semi-final of the ODI World Cup 2023, South Africa will aim to do better in the shorter format. 

Maharaj opined that spinners will be crucial for the side. As the pitches have been getting better and the boundaries shorter, the spinners could be the ones to watch.

"Spinners will play a crucial role in the upcoming T20 World Cup. Wickets are getting better, and boundaries are getting shorter. There is much need for a spinner in the team to provide control and variety," Maharaj was quoted as saying by IndiaToday.

"Hopefully, these T20 platforms can give spinners even bigger role to players coming to the international stage," he added.

You have to be street smart to succeed in T20: Maharaj

Furthermore, Maharaj also talked of his success in the shortest format, which he credited to being street-smart, which aided his career in the T20 format. It is worth noting that Maharaj has played 27 T20Is for South Africa so far, where he has taken 24 wickets and continues to impress for the Proteas in the format.

"You have to be street-smart to succeed in T20 as a left-arm spinner. Do your homework. There is a need for any left-arm or right arm or finger spinner to complement each other. If I can help the youngsters in this art of finger spin, I would like to believe that there will be some sort of motivation for them to continue with it and progress to a higher level in international cricket," Maharaj said.