South African starlet Kwena Maphaka signs IPL deal with Mumbai Indians

The 17-year-old Maphaka shot into the limelight at the U19 World Cup earlier this year where he was awarded the player of the tournament after picking up 21 wickets.

The left armer fast bowler's 21 wickets are the most ever by a paceman in any edition of the U19 World Cup. 

He spearheaded South Africa's attack as they made the semi-finals in home conditions and has already gone on to represent South Africa A and South Africa Emerging teams. 

He still is in his final year of high school. A talented all-round sportsman, Maphaka has also had success in tennis and hockey. He hails from the same school as Kagiso Rabada, St. Stithians.

He debuted for the South Africa U19 team at 15 & has already played in two U19 World Cups. He is capable of touching speeds of 140kph and his death bowling and yorkers were a standout too at the U19 World Cup earlier this year.

He will now share the dressing room with two of the best bowlers in world cricket - Lasith Malinga, Mumbai Indians' bowling coach - and India internatational Jasprit Bumrah.

Maphaka already is capable of generating serious pace and has a very mean bouncer that is known to hurry the batters up and also also a smart yorker.

He could make his IPL debut when the Mumbai Indians kick off their 2024 campaign against the Gujarat Lions on Sunday.

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