Kwena Maphaka, the new 17-year-old South African pacer who has been signed by the Mumbai Indians for IPL 2024, is aiming to become a better pacer than Jasprit Bumrah.
It was confirmed on Thursday that Mumbai Indians have signed Kwena Maphaka as the replacement for Sri Lankan seamer Dilshan Madushanka, who has been ruled out of the IPL 2024 season due to an injury.
Instead of going for an experienced international pacer, the Mumbai Indians, who are well-known for their scouting and backing young talents, have gone with Kwena Maphaka, a 17-year-old from Johannesburg who is still going to school but who was the star bowler in the recent Under-19 World Cup.
Like Madushanka, Maphaka is also a left-arm pacer who can swing the new ball at high pace.
Jasprit you’re a great bowler: Kwena Maphaka
Jasprit Bumrah, currently at the peak of his career, has inspired Kwena Maphaka. The young Protea seamer had said during the Under-19 World Cup that his celebration is similar to Bumrah and he aims to become better than the Indian spearhead seamer.
“Jasprit you’re a great bowler. Hopefully, I am better than you,” Kwena Maphaka said in a video for the ICC.
“I actually asked my brother for a celebration to give me just before the World Cup. And he just said ‘I have no clue. I don’t know’. I said, ‘You know what, that sounds good. Let me go with the “I don’t know” celebration.'”
He was simply outstanding during the under-19 World Cup 2024 when he took 21 wickets from 6 matches at an average of 9.71 and an economy rate of 3.81. His wickets tally is an all-time record for an under-19 World Cup.
Kwena Maphaka will get to learn a lot at Mumbai Indians from the likes of Bumrah and bowling coach Lasith Malinga.
Mumbai’s first match is on March 24 against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad.
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