Keshav Maharaj was slightly worried when he arrived with his Proteas teammates at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday afternoon about what he could eat.
The US is big on meat, especially at baseball stadiums, where corn dogs, hot dogs and burgers are part of the culture. “We’d been doing a lot of walking around, and you know the hustle and bustle of New York, so I missed lunch and when we got to the stadium I was worried there wouldn’t be many options for me and I was starving,” he said.
Fortunately, New York is a cosmopolitan city, and Yankee Stadium embraces its status in that city and the fact that it is a must-see spot, and so tries to cater for a variety of tastes. The number of options on the menu shocked Maharaj — a picky vegetarian.
He eschewed the sushi, fried rice, teppanyaki and chicken tenders. “I had a ‘cheat day’... I had some sweet potato fries and a veggie burger,” he said.
On a full stomach, and with his brain ticking over as usual, the day before the visit with the Yankees Maharaj was doling out tips and swapping strategies as the Proteas started their T20 World Cup campaign on a positive note against Sri Lanka at the Nassau County International Stadium.
Having parked his own captaincy ambitions some time ago, Maharaj explained that he has a responsibility to share thoughts and plans with SA’s T20 captain Aiden Markram. “I’m a scholar of the game. I’m always watching cricket. If it’s not live, I’m watching videos and trying to pick up clues on how to beat batters. I feel that is one of my strengths,” he said.
“We have a tight-knit leadership group. Aiden is the captain of the ship. He is very open-minded, so if we have a tactical opinion, we will go to him, and he takes it or he doesn’t,” said Maharaj.
“As one of the leaders in the side, it’s very good to be passing on information, whether it is used or not, as long as we are doing the right thing. We’d rather give him the info, you don’t know, it might work in a particular situation.”
During his eight years in the Proteas, Maharaj has been a rock for a variety of captains and coaches who have valued his honesty and cricket intellect, both in the change-room and off the field. “The important part is getting clarity about my role,” he explained about how he has gained the confidence of coaches.
Initially not part of Rob Walter’s T20 plans, Maharaj said he needed to adapt. “I wasn’t the first choice but he guided me about what I needed to do to become one of the lead spinners within the team. I’m always challenging myself to get better, just trying to do my business and if that is aligned with what the coach wants me to do, then I am happy to fulfil that part.”
As SA continue to pursue a first world title, Maharaj said the fact that the core of the group has been through many battles will stand them in good stead over the next few weeks. “We’ve been together for three to four World Cups, so it’s been very relaxed,” he said.
“There is so much to do here outside of the cricket, so it’s easy to zone out from the pressure that you do feel at a world cup. There is a different buzz in the camp. Everyone has gone through the hardships of previous World Cups, like last year’s semifinal.
“As a collective, it is about building on what we have achieved in the last three years. Hopefully that eagerness propels us to greater things in this World Cup.”
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