He was selected in the IPL when he was just 18 years old, which indicates more about his special talents, as most opportunities rarely exist for an athlete at this tender age.
Former RCB player Dinesh Karthik hails Rajasthan Royals’ latest IPL 2025 auction signing Kwena Maphaka as a ‘genuine superstar’.
Dinesh Karthik is now RCB’s batting coach for the upcoming season, and Rajasthan Royals bought Kwena Maphaka for INR 1.5 crore in the auction.
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Karthik has retired from Indian domestic and international cricket. Now he has the right to play in several leagues. At SA20 2025 she will represent Paarl Royals alongside South African teenager Kwena Maphaka.
Karthik praises Kwena Maphaka’s talent
Speaking at the press conference, Karthik believes that Kwena Maphaka is exceptionally talented and recalls his good performances during the U-19 World Cup, where his bowling put a lot of pressure on the opposing teams. He points out that many teams devised strategies to simply survive Kwena’s initial spell, a rare impact for a young bowler.
“Kwena is one of those true superstars,” Karthik said. “I saw him bowl at the U-19 World Cup. I almost felt like when you were playing against South Africa you needed to get through that first period.
“That’s a feeling that not many players can convey. I understand it was at under-19 level, but the mentality of a lot of the teams that played against him was: “Let’s get over his spell and then things will change.”
Karthik emphasizes that Kwena can handle pressure and high expectations. This ability has fueled his progression from a promising youth player to representing South Africa in all three formats.
“So he has handled the pressure, he has come with expectations and it is fantastic to see him becoming not only a good domestic cricketer but today playing for South Africa in all three formats.
He was selected in the IPL when he was just 18 years old, which indicates more about his special talents, as most opportunities rarely exist for an athlete at this tender age.
“At just 18 years old, he already participated in the most important tournament in the world, the IPL. They don’t arrest many 18-year-olds there.”
A future superstar for South Africa
According to Karthik, Kwena Maphaka is a special player. This can be evident from his bowling skills and superstar potential. Karthik says South Africa has a rare gem and it must be ensured proper development.
“He is a special player,” Karthik said. “You can see that in the way he bowls. He has the skills to be the superstar I hope he will be. South Africa has found a gem and they need to protect it.
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Karthik told Kwena that he must ensure that he is always fit. Because maintaining speed will be paramount in your career and, therefore, adopting a winning mentality every time you take the field will be crucial. Karthik also acknowledges that Kwena has already made a significant impact wherever he has played, demonstrating his willingness to excel at higher levels.
“You need to learn to take care of your body. The only thing that will happen as he gets older is that he might slow down, and he doesn’t want to. So, it is important how you take care of your body. But mentally, every time you enter the park, you have to try to do everything you can to win the game for the team.
“So far, I must admit, it has been well taken care of. “Wherever he’s played, he’s made a difference on that team.”
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