Kwena Maphaka is a South African international cricketer and a left-arm fast bowler. He played in the Under-19 World Cup, where he took 3 wickets for 32 runs in 10 overs in the semi-final against India. He finished the tournament with 21 wickets at an average of 9.71 and was named Player of the Tournament.
At 18 years and 137 days old, he became the youngest South African to debut in men’s international cricket. At that time, he was still studying at St Stithians College in Johannesburg.
Maphaka played in the IPL before making his international debut. He was signed by the Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024 as an injury replacement for Dilshan Madushanka. He bowled six overs in two matches and took one wicket. He was later released and bought by the Rajasthan Royals for INR 1.5 crore in the IPL 2025 auction. He also played for Paarl Royals in the SA20 2024–25 season.
Kwena Maphaka Records and Achievements
Kwena Maphaka made his first-class debut for South Africa A on 12 June 2023 at the age of 17 and took two wickets in the first innings. He made his List A debut on 6 October 2023 for South Africa Emerging Players and took three wickets.
In March 2024, he made his CSA T20 Challenge debut for the Lions. He was signed for the 2024 SA20 season and was retained for 2025 by Paarl Royals. He also played two matches for the Mumbai Indians in the 2024 IPL, becoming the youngest South African and third-youngest overseas player to feature in the IPL.
Maphaka made his T20I debut on 23 August 2024 against the West Indies at 18 years and 137 days, becoming the youngest South African man to play international cricket. On 19 December 2024, he became South Africa’s youngest ODI debutant and took 4/72 against Pakistan.
Kwena Maphaka Career Stats
In Tests, Kwena Maphaka has played 2 matches and taken 3 wickets. His best bowling figures are 2/43. With the bat, he has scored 17 runs and hit 2 sixes.
In ODIs, he has played 3 matches and taken 5 wickets. His best figures are 4/72, including 1 four-wicket haul. He has scored only 1 run in those 3 matches.
In T20Is, Maphaka has played 17 matches and taken 16 wickets. His best figures are 4/20, with 1 four-wicket haul. He has scored 19 runs with 2 fours.
In First-Class cricket, he has played 6 matches and taken 21 wickets. His best bowling figures are 3/24. He has scored 19 runs in 17 matches, with 2 fours. He has scored 26 runs.
| Bowling | ||||||
| Format | Mat | Wkts | BBI | 4w | 5w | 10w |
| Tests | 2 | 3 | 2/43 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ODIs | 3 | 5 | 4/72 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| T20Is | 17 | 16 | 4/20 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| FC | 6 | 21 | 3/24 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Batting | ||||||
| Format | Mat | Runs | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s |
| Tests | 2 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| ODIs | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| T20Is | 17 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| FC | 6 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Kwena Maphaka’s Personal Life
Kwena Maphaka started playing cricket at a very young age. He first picked up a cricket ball at around three years old and began playing backyard cricket with his older brother. By six, he was playing for his school’s Under-9 team, and at 15, he made his Under-19 international debut.
He studies at St Stithians in Johannesburg, where he is in his final year of high school. Apart from cricket, he has participated in gymnastics and athletics and has run the 100 metres in 11 seconds. He also plays tennis and hockey, representing hockey at the provincial level, and has aimed to make the Southern Gauteng Under-18 A team.
Maphaka has said he is interested in sports management, clinical psychology, and sports psychology for future studies, though his main focus remains cricket. His goal is to represent South Africa in all three formats.
He has received guidance from Kagiso Rabada, who attended the same school and sent him a good-luck message before the Under-19 World Cup. His parents attend his matches regularly, and his older brother Tetelo, a left-arm spinner, is also pursuing cricket at the provincial level.
Kwena Maphaka Contract
Kwena Maphaka has received his first national central contract from Cricket South Africa. The contract runs from 1 June 2025 to 31 May 2026.
He is one of three players in the 18-man list awarded a Proteas contract for the first time. His selection follows his international debut in all three formats over the past six months.
The contract covers a busy season that includes the World Test Championship final and multiple bilateral tours, as South Africa plans for the next WTC cycle and the 2027 Cricket World Cup.
FAQs
Q. When did Kwena Maphaka make his first-class debut?
A. Kwena Maphaka made his first-class debut on 12 June 2023 for South Africa A at the age of 17.
Q. How did Kwena Maphaka perform on his List A debut?
A. Kwena Maphaka took three wickets for South Africa Emerging Players on 6 October 2023.
Q. What record did Kwena Maphaka set in the IPL 2024?
A. Kwena Maphaka became the youngest South African and third-youngest overseas player to play in the IPL.
Q. What were Kwena Maphaka’s figures on ODI debut?
A. Kwena Maphaka took 4 wickets for 72 runs against Pakistan on 19 December 2024.
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