Listen to this article

On his much-anticipated One Day International debut, Kwena Maphaka showcased his immense potential by taking four crucial wickets against Pakistan at Newlands, Cape Town. Maphaka, who was recently purchased by Rajasthan Royals for INR 1.5 crore during the IPL 2025 auction, delivered an exceptional performance that has excited both fans and cricket analysts alike.

The young cricketer’s journey began with a significant breakthrough, dismissing Saim Ayub who was at the age of 25, to claim his first wicket in the international arena. Maphaka further secured his reputation by taking a noteworthy caught-and-bowled dismissal of Mohammad Rizwan. Rizwan had been a key player for Pakistan, having scored 80 runs off 82 balls before falling to Maphaka’s strategic delivery.

Maphaka’s contribution was most pronounced in his final over, where he successfully dismissed Kamran Ghulam, who had scored a rapid 63 runs off 32 balls, and concluded with the wicket of Haris Rauf. These crucial wickets underscored Maphaka’s ability to perform under pressure as he ended his spell with figures of 4/72 in 9.5 overs.

Pakistan posted a challenging total of 329/10 in 49.5 overs, with major contributions from Rizwan, Babar Azam, who added 73 runs, and Ghulam. At the report’s last update, South Africa were 56-1 in 8.2 overs, needing 274 more runs to claim victory.

Maphaka’s exemplary debut performance highlights his potential as a future star for both Rajasthan Royals and the South African national team, positioning him as a player to watch in the upcoming cricket seasons. His ability to take key wickets at crucial moments is bound to be an asset as he further hones his skills in international cricket.

Share this post!