Ace South African spinner Keshav Maharaj has been appointed as the captain of the Durban Super Giants SA20 franchise; the team announced on social media on July 14, 2023.
Maharaj is currently out of action after rupturing his Achilles tendon during the second Test against West Indies while celebrating after taking a wicket. Maharaj sustained a “complete rupture” of the tendon, Cricket South Africa said, and will meet with a surgeon on Monday.
The unusual injury saw Maharaj carried off the Wanderers field on a stretcher minutes after he got his second wicket in South Africa’s series-clinching 284-run win. He later reappeared on crutches and with his left foot in a moon boot.
Keshav Maharaj Replaces Quinton De Kock As Captain Of Durban Super Giants
Ahead of the SA20 2023 edition, the Durban Super Giants, franchise is owned by the RPSG Group, had named Quinton de Kock as captain of the side. The new SA20 league provided a platform for young players to rise to the occasion, demonstrate their abilities, and move one step closer to making the national team.
However, the team performed poorly under his captaincy, only winning 4 out of 10 matches and finished 5th in the six-team competition with 19 points to their name. All of their wins came in their first four matches and they lost their next 5 matches, while one was washed away.
Therefore, the DSG, on July 14, 2023, decided to hand over the captaincy to Keshav Maharaj for the next SA20 season in 2023-24.
Maharaj has experience of captaining the South African side in ODIs and T20Is and is the vice-captain of South Africa in white-ball sides. He captained the Team in his debut T20I match as well.
Durban Super Giants tweeted: “Durban, presenting your new skipper!”
Durban, presenting your new skipper! ? pic.twitter.com/3VC3QhoXer
— Durban’s Super Giants (@DurbansSG) July 14, 2023