South African spinner Keshav Maharaj has revealed the powerful motivation that pushed him through a serious Achilles tendon injury last year: the dream of playing in the World Cup on Indian soil.
Confined to the sidelines after a stretchered-off incident during the second Test against West Indies, Keshav Maharaj faced an uphill battle to regain fitness for the marquee tournament. But with the World Cup beckoning, negativity became fuel for his comeback.
“The thought of not being there did cross my mind,” Keshav Maharaj admitted, “but I quickly switched it to saying ‘I need to play the World Cup.'”
Missing the tournament would have been a devastating blow, but the determination to be a part of it became an added drive for his recovery.
While the fairytale ending of lifting the trophy eluded him, Maharaj takes pride in South Africa’s spirited run to the semi-finals. “Getting to the semi-final was a huge thing,” he stated, acknowledging the team’s fighting spirit despite the ultimate heartbreak.
Keshav Maharaj eyes retirement at 40
But the World Cup dream lives on for Maharaj. With eyes firmly set on the 2027 edition, he declared, “If South Africa wants me, I’m going for as long as possible, especially up to the 2027 World Cup.”
The unfulfilled feeling of not having a World Cup title to his name fuels his ambition. “Hopefully, we can play the next three ICC events because I will feel very unfulfilled if I do not win a World Cup,” he expressed with unwavering determination.
And his ambition extends beyond 2027. At 34, Keshav Maharaj envisions an international career stretching till he’s 40. Even after that, he plans to contribute to the game through domestic cricket, emphasizing his commitment to strengthening the South African cricketing system.
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