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Int'l Cricket Council
3 days ago
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
Veteran Maharaj looks forward to the Australia challenge
Over nine years ago, Maharaj made his international debut for South Africa, against Australia in a Test match at the WACA. And 57 Tests later, the left-arm spinner returns to face the same opponent, in the all-important World Test Championship Final 2025. In this period, Maharaj has proved himself to be a team player, filling the much-needed spin void in the South Africa setup while also becoming a part of the team's think tank. 'I guess I have become someone to provide a shoulder to those who need it. I like to give advice where I can,' Maharaj told Cricket South Africa in an interview. Keshav Maharaj celebrates a wicket in Bangladesh // Getty Images The 35-year-old returns to competitive cricket after a prolonged break, and is raring to take on Pat Cummins' men in the Ultimate Test. Maharaj has 22 wickets against Australia in the format, at an average of 45 in conditions that don't have the best support for spinners. Maharaj has also played a big role in South Africa's journey to the final, with 40 wickets from eight games in this cycle of the World Test Championship. Despite the break, Maharaj's focus remains on overcoming the Australians. 'Having had the break, I am excited to get back together with the boys. Guys have been playing all over, in different competitions, but now we have some time to really get close and focus. 'I have been working hard on my bowling and conditioning, and I think we needed a mental break. But you don't need any motivation to play a final against Australia.' Double blow from Keshav Maharaj | SA v IND | T20WC 2024 Final South Africa and Australia have a shared history of close ICC knockout contests, including the 1999 and 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup semi-finals, where the latter emerged victorious on both occasions. Australia are the only team to have won all senior Men's ICC events across formats, with a total of 10 titles to their name. Maharaj is aware of the magnitude of what awaits South Africa. 'We know what is in front of us, because Australia is a great team, who play a great brand of cricket, and they have been the dominant force for a long time and conquered all three formats,' Maharaj stated. Ricky Ponting picks his Australia XI for the World Test Championship Final. The former Australia captain names the squad he believes should take on South Africa in the WTC Final. However, Maharaj believes that this South African side, which has won its last seven Tests in a row, can stop the Australian juggernaut. 'When I think of the character of this team, our never-say-die attitude stands out. There are only three of us who have played over 50 Tests, but we never back down from a challenge. Regardless of the place or the opponent, we believe in each other, and that's what really matters. 'What Shuks and Temba have done deserves a lot of credit. They have encouraged us, and to see this team come together and get to where we are, it really is special.' Maharaj also pointed out South Africa's great record at the Lord's Cricket Ground, wherein they have won five Tests since their readmission to cricket in 1991. 'We know that it is a crucial, one-off Test match. We also know that we have a great record at Lord's as a country, and the key for us is to focus on executing our plans.' While Maharaj's focus will be on getting South Africa their first senior Men's title since 1998, he is also on the cusp of a rare landmark: becoming the first-ever South Africa spinner to achieve 200 Test wickets. He has 198 wickets in the format at present. 'I never really thought about it. For me, it has always been about doing my job for the team. The personal accolades don't really matter, as long as the team is winning,' Maharaj states. 'Hopefully, I can add 200 more before I am done! As long as I can keep getting in the team, I just want to keep improving, trusting my skill set and contributing for the country.'
Int'l Cricket Council
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
Kohli reflects on ending ICC title drought with T20 World Cup win
After years of chasing the coveted ICC Men's T20 World Cup title, Virat Kohli signed off from T20Is on the highest note possible – taking India to a long-awaited World Cup title with a match-winning knock in the final. Having finished as the leading run-getter (741 runs) in the 2024 season of the IPL, Kohli suffered a lean run of form at the beginning of the Men's T20 World Cup, scoring 75 runs from seven innings before turning it around with a spectacular knock in the final. His 76 from 59 guided India towards a match-winning total, securing their first world title in the format since 2007. Kohli won the Player of the Match award for his effort. Kohli delivers in his final T20I | POTM highlights | SA v IND | T20WC 2024 Final Watch the extended highlights of Virat Kohli's last T20 International for India in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 Final against South Africa. In a detailed conversation on the RCB Podcast , Kohli opened up on his reaction to the outcome. 'We were all emotional about it because we had been trying for so long, we saw so many ups and downs," Kohli recalled. 'Personally for me, I had three back-to-back setbacks in terms of ICC tournaments – 2014 finals, 2016 semi-finals and 2017 Champions Trophy finals. And the 2015 semi-final as well.' 'I was more grateful than proud. I knew I was going to retire after that, irrespective of that [outcome], my decision was made and I was very clear that this was my last T20 tournament.' Extra Cover | SA v IND | T20WC 2024 FInal Step into the heart of the action and feel the passion, energy and excitement of the epic T20 World Cup 2024 Final between South Africa and India 😍 Discussing his own effort, Kohli was pleasantly surprised to see the manner in which runs came off his willow on the day. 'And I was just grateful for the fact that I was not able to get runs through the tournament and how I was put in the pressure situation again," he said. "I was walking in with no confidence, and suddenly you get three [quick] boundaries [in the first over]. 'I was like, 'What is this game?' One day you aren't getting any runs, and then you walk into the biggest game of your career and things just start happening.' 'Then you understand, this is the amount of hard work, and then when you arrive to the ground, whatever has to take place will take place.' A Kohli special in the final | SA v IND | T20WC 2024 Final Watch Virat Kohli's 76 off 59 balls in the final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024. Kohli's performance was made even more special by the fact that he returned to the India T20I setup only in January 2024, having spent more than a year away from the format, since the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final loss. At that time, there were questions around India's batting approach in the format. Since then, Kohli has spent a considerable amount of time reworking his mindset. 'Last couple of seasons, I've made a conscious effort to evolve my game. I had to let go of people trying to see me [in a certain light], and just go out there and hit the ball,' he added. The T20 World Cup final win was a personal high for Kohli, then 35, and the batter decided to call it quits from the format following the result. Every Virat Kohli boundary at T20WC 2024 Watch every boundary from the bat of the Virat Kohli at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024. While Kohli continues to shine for his franchise in the IPL, leading the run charts in the 2025 league, the batter explained his decision to retire from the format by stating that he understood that India's next generation batters were ready to take the side's gameplay to another level. 'The decision is taken purely understanding that there are new set of players who are more than ready," he noted. "These guys are playing a way different game than what we've been playing. 'And they need time, they need a two-year cycle to evolve, to handle pressure and play in different parts of the world.' News Virat Kohli 11/05/1988 India ICC Men's T20 World Cup, 2024
Int'l Cricket Council
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
From defeat to destiny – Kohli reflects on ending ICC title drought with T20 World Cup win
After years of chasing the coveted ICC Men's T20 World Cup title, Virat Kohli signed off from T20Is on the highest note possible – taking India to a long-awaited World Cup title with a match-winning knock in the final. Having finished as the leading run-getter (741 runs) in the 2024 season of the IPL, Kohli suffered a lean run of form at the beginning of the Men's T20 World Cup, scoring 75 runs from seven innings before turning it around with a spectacular knock in the final. His 76 from 59 guided India towards a match-winning total, securing their first world title in the format since 2007. Kohli won the Player of the Match award for his effort. Kohli delivers in his final T20I | POTM highlights | SA v IND | T20WC 2024 Final In a detailed conversation on the RCB Podcast , Kohli opened up on his reaction to the outcome. 'We were all emotional about it because we had been trying for so long, we saw so many ups and downs," Kohli recalled. 'Personally for me, I had three back-to-back setbacks in terms of ICC tournaments – 2014 finals, 2016 semi-finals and 2017 Champions Trophy finals. And the 2015 semi-final as well.' 'I was more grateful than proud. I knew I was going to retire after that, irrespective of that [outcome], my decision was made and I was very clear that this was my last T20 tournament.' Extra Cover | SA v IND | T20WC 2024 FInal Step into the heart of the action and feel the passion, energy and excitement of the epic T20 World Cup 2024 Final between South Africa and India 😍 Discussing his own effort, Kohli was pleasantly surprised to see the manner in which runs came off his willow on the day. 'And I was just grateful for the fact that I was not able to get runs through the tournament and how I was put in the pressure situation again," he said. "I was walking in with no confidence, and suddenly you get three [quick] boundaries [in the first over]. 'I was like, 'What is this game?' One day you aren't getting any runs, and then you walk into the biggest game of your career and things just start happening.' 'Then you understand, this is the amount of hard work, and then when you arrive to the ground, whatever has to take place will take place.' A Virat special in the final | SA v IND | T20WC 2024 Final Kohli's performance was made even more special by the fact that he returned to the India T20I setup only in January 2024, having spent more than a year away from the format, since the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final loss. At that time, there were questions around India's batting approach in the format. Since then, Kohli has spent a considerable amount of time reworking his mindset. 'Last couple of seasons, I've made a conscious effort to evolve my game. I had to let go of people trying to see me [in a certain light], and just go out there and hit the ball,' he added. The T20 World Cup final win was a personal high for Kohli, then 35, and the batter decided to call it quits from the format following the result. Every Virat Kohli boundary at T20WC 2024 Watch every boundary from the bat of the Virat Kohli at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024. While Kohli continues to shine for his franchise in the IPL, leading the run charts in the 2025 league, the batter explained his decision to retire from the format by stating that he understood that India's next generation batters were ready to take the side's gameplay to another level. 'The decision is taken purely understanding that there are new set of players who are more than ready," he noted. "These guys are playing a way different game than what we've been playing. 'And they need time, they need a two-year cycle to evolve, to handle pressure and play in different parts of the world.' News Virat Kohli 11/05/1988 India ICC Men's T20 World Cup, 2024
