TATA IPL 2024: Mumbai Indians signs Kwena Maphaka to replace injured Madushanka

By siliconindia  |  Thursday, 21 March 2024, 08:59:48 AM IST

TATA IPL 2024: Mumbai Indians signs Kwena Maphaka to replace injured Madushanka
Prior to the commencement of the Indian Premier League 2024's opening match, Mumbai Indians have unveiled a replacement for Dilshan Madushanka, who is sidelined for the season due to injury. The team has enlisted the services of 17-year-old South African talent, Kwena Maphaka, to fill the void left by the injured Sri Lankan pacer.
Maphaka showcased an outstanding performance in the recently concluded ICC Under-19 World Cup 2023, where he earned the Player of the Tournament title. With 21 wickets at an impressive average of 9.71, he also established a new record for the highest number of wickets in a single edition of the U19 WC. Having debuted for the South Africa U19 team at the age of 15, he has already participated in two U19 World Cups. Noteworthy is his ability to reach speeds of up to 140kph, while his adeptness in death bowling and yorkers was particularly highlighted during this year's U19 World Cup.
Still completing his final year of high school, Maphaka is a talented all-round sportsman who has also achieved success in tennis and hockey. He originates from the same school as Kagiso Rabada, St. Stithians. Alongside fellow South Africans Gerald Coetzee and Dewald Brevis, Maphaka joins the squad, aiming to capitalize on this significant opportunity. It will be a significant moment for the youngster as he will have the chance to learn from renowned bowlers of the past and present, including Jasprit Bumrah and Lasith Malinga, who serves as MI's bowling coach.
MI will kick off their season with their inaugural match against the Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on March 24, 2024. Their objective is to begin the season positively as they strive to regain the title after a four-year hiatus; their most recent championship victory occurred in the 2020 season.
Mumbai Indians Updated Squad for IPL 2024: Rohit Sharma, Dewald Brevis, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, N. Tilak Varma, Tim David, Vishnu Vinod, Arjun Tendulkar, Shams Mulani, Nehal Wadhera, Jasprit Bumrah, Kumar Kartikeya, Piyush Chawla, Akash Madhwal, Jason Behrendorff, Romario Shepherd, Hardik Pandya (c), Gerald Coetzee, Shreyas Gopal, Nuwan Thushara, Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Mohammad Nabi, Shivalik Sharma, Kwena Maphaka.

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