Dale Steyn Reacts, “Difference Between U19 and Pro League,” After Kwena Maphaka Gives Up Most Runs in Her IPL Debut
Kwena Maphaka, a 17-year-old South African pacer for the Mumbai Indians, made a nightmare start to the Indian Premier League (IPL). In only four overs, he gave up 66 runs, making him the player with the most runs given up on debut in the competition.
Dale Steyn said on social media that the child had experienced a “baptism of fire.”
“Maphaka understands the distinction between the PRO League and the U19.” “Baptism of fire,” Steyn said on X, the old Twitter platform.
The Mumbai Indians quickly brought in Kwena Maphaka to fill in for the injured Sri Lankan Dilshan Madushanka. He has been the most successful bowler in the history of the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2023, taking 21 wickets in six games, the most of any bowler. He attends the same high school as Kagiso Rabada, St. Stithians, and has excelled in both hockey and tennis.
After only Rasikh Salam, who was a day younger when he made his debut against the Delhi Capitals in 2019, Kwena Maphaka became the second youngest player to represent MI. Overall, the South African surpassed players like Sandeep Lamichhane of the Delhi Capitals and Mujeeb ur Rahman of the Punjab Kings to become the third-youngest foreign player to debut.
In the end, Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated the Mumbai Indians by 31 runs in a six-hit extravaganza, amassing the highest-ever Indian Premier League total of 277-3.
After Hyderabad batted first, they broke the previous IPL record of 263-5 set by Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2013 when Travis Head of Australia scored a career-best 62 off of 24 balls, and Abhishek Sharma, motivated by a conversation with West Indies great Brian Lara, blasted a career-best 63.
Hyderabad’s innings saw a barrage of boundaries, with 18 sixes and 19 fours, as Heinrich Klaasen (80 not out in 34 balls) and Aiden Markram (42 not out) of South Africa put up an undefeated 116. Mumbai came back hard in the game that saw 38 sixes, setting a new IPL record, surpassing the 33 smashes that were hammered over the fence three times in previous seasons.
