Mumbai Replace Injured Madushanka With South African With Kwena Maphaka, Mumbai Indians have signed teenage pace prodigy Kwena Maphaka as a replacement for the injured Dilshan Madushanka.
Maphaka, a 17-year-old left-arm fast bowler, was recently named Player of the Tournament at the Under-19 World Cup held in his home country of South Africa. His 21 wickets in that competition are the most ever by a pace bowler in an edition of the U19 World Cup. He will join the five-time IPL champions at his base price of INR 50 lakh.
Maphaka, who hails from the same school – St. Stithians – as compatriot Kagiso Rabada, made the U-19 team at the age of 15 and has already featured in two junior World Cups. He has already represented South Africa ‘A’ and Emerging Teams.
His Replacement Warrier Joins The GT
Gujarat Titans have named Sandeep Warrier as a replacement for Mohd. Shami. Shami recently underwent surgery for his right heel injury and is currently recovering. His replacement, Warrier joins GT at his basement price of INR 50 lakh and has previously played five IPL matches.
Mumbai Indians will be without Dilshan Madushanka for IPL 2024. The Sri Lanka fast bowler picked up a hamstring injury during a tour of Bangladesh earlier this month and has been ruled out of the entire T20 tournament. Seventeen-year-old South African fast bowler Kwena Maphaka has been named as his replacement.
Mad Ushanka’s Ability To Swing The New Ball Was on Show
Mumbai had invested a significant sum in Madushanka – INR 4.6 crore (USD 554,000 approx.) and he stood a chance to play in the first XI as a powerplay specialist. Madushanka’s ability to swing the new ball was on show in the ODI World Cup in 2023, where he was the third-highest wicket-taker (21) behind Mohammed Shami (24) and Adam Zampa (23).
Maphaka is in his final year of school. He goes to the same one as Kagiso Rabada, St Stithians in Johannesburg. He was due to spend his summer holidays in Mumbai and then return home. But those plans have changed and he will instead spend March, April. And May with a team that includes fast bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and coaches like Lasith Malinga.
Read More: Future Tour Dates Details Of Forthcoming International Series
South Africa to the semi-finals with his haul of 21 wickets
Maphaka was one of the most eye-catching players in the 2024 Under-19 World Cup. So taking South Africa to the semi-finals with his haul of 21 wickets from six ODIs at an average of 9.71 and an economy rate of 3.81. Nobody has taken more wickets in a single edition of the youth World Cup. The left-arm seamer’s teammates say he bowls 140 kph and is known for his inswing. Which puts him in the same mold as Madushanka.
Mumbai has six other specialist fast bowlers in their squad. Although one of them, another potential starter, Gerald Coetzee, is nursing a groin injury. The new captain Hardik Pandya, has announced that he will be fit to bowl again. They might well be needed to offer support to the Bumrah-led bowling attack.
