# Kwena Maphaka
**Kwena Maphaka** (full name Kwena Tshegofatso Maphaka, born 2006 in [Johannesburg](https://www.edgepedia.org/johannesburg)) is a South African left-arm fast bowler who became the youngest player to represent South Africa in men's international cricket and the country's youngest Test debutant.[1](https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/players/114998-kwena-maphaka-playerprofile) • [2](https://www.cricbuzz.com/profiles/23346/kwena-maphaka) He rose to prominence at the 2024 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup, where he was the leading wicket-taker, and made his international debuts in all three formats within five months, between August 2024 and January 2025.[3](https://www.durbanssupergiants.com/players/kwena-maphaka-90908-profile) • [4](https://www.rajasthanroyals.com/latest-news/kwena-maphaka-odi-debut-south-africa-vs-pakistan-2024)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 2006, Johannesburg; bats left-handed, bowls left-arm fast[1](https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/players/114998-kwena-maphaka-playerprofile) |
| 2024 U19 World Cup | 21 wickets in six matches at an average of 9.71, the tournament's highest wicket-taker and Player of the Tournament at age 17[2](https://www.cricbuzz.com/profiles/23346/kwena-maphaka) • [3](https://www.durbanssupergiants.com/players/kwena-maphaka-90908-profile) |
| International debuts | T20I on August 23, 2024 vs West Indies; ODI on December 19, 2024 vs Pakistan; Test on January 3, 2025 vs Pakistan[4](https://www.rajasthanroyals.com/latest-news/kwena-maphaka-odi-debut-south-africa-vs-pakistan-2024) • [2](https://www.cricbuzz.com/profiles/23346/kwena-maphaka) |
| Pace | Bowled a 151kph delivery on ODI debut against Pakistan; sent Mitchell Owen's off-stump cartwheeling with a 144kph ball against Australia in August 2025[5](https://www.cricket.com.au/players/CA%3A8664) • [6](https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/teenage-tearaway-maphaka-announces-himself-against-australia) |
| Franchise career | IPL debut for Mumbai Indians at 17 years 354 days, the youngest debutant in the franchise's history; later joined Rajasthan Royals[7](https://crex.com/player/kwena-maphaka-82M) • [3](https://www.durbanssupergiants.com/players/kwena-maphaka-90908-profile) |
| Contract | Retained a Cricket South Africa central contract for the 2026-27 season[8](https://www.rajasthanroyals.com/latest-news/cricket-south-africa-central-contract-2026-27-kwena-maphaka) |
## Junior career and the 2024 Under-19 World Cup
Maphaka was introduced to cricket at the age of 3, bowling to his elder brother in the family's backyard in Johannesburg.[7](https://crex.com/player/kwena-maphaka-82M) He debuted for the South Africa U19 team at 15 and played two U19 World Cups, appearing at the 2022 event in the Caribbean when he was still 15.[9](https://www.mumbaiindians.com/players/90908-kwena-maphaka-profile) • [2](https://www.cricbuzz.com/profiles/23346/kwena-maphaka)
The 2024 tournament made his reputation. Maphaka took 21 wickets in six matches at an average of 9.71, finishing as the highest wicket-taker, and the 21 scalps were the most ever taken by a pace bowler in a single U19 World Cup.[2](https://www.cricbuzz.com/profiles/23346/kwena-maphaka) • [3](https://www.durbanssupergiants.com/players/kwena-maphaka-90908-profile) • [9](https://www.mumbaiindians.com/players/90908-kwena-maphaka-profile) He was named Player of the [Tournament](https://www.edgepedia.org/tournament) despite being only 17 years old.[5](https://www.cricket.com.au/players/CA%3A8664)
## Franchise career
[Mumbai Indians](https://www.edgepedia.org/mumbai-indians) signed Maphaka for IPL 2024 after his second U19 World Cup, and he made his IPL debut against [Sunrisers Hyderabad](https://www.edgepedia.org/sunrisers-hyderabad) on March 27, 2024, at 17 years and 354 days, the youngest player to debut for the franchise.[2](https://www.cricbuzz.com/profiles/23346/kwena-maphaka) • [7](https://crex.com/player/kwena-maphaka-82M) Mumbai released him ahead of the 2025 auction, and [Rajasthan Royals](https://www.edgepedia.org/rajasthan-royals) secured his services.[3](https://www.durbanssupergiants.com/players/kwena-maphaka-90908-profile) He was part of the Rajasthan Royals squad for IPL 2026.[8](https://www.rajasthanroyals.com/latest-news/cricket-south-africa-central-contract-2026-27-kwena-maphaka)
In South African franchise cricket he has been associated with MI Cape Town and Durban's Super Giants, and his name appeared on the Betway [SA20](https://www.edgepedia.org/sa20) Season 4 auction list with a base price of 500,000 rand.[2](https://www.cricbuzz.com/profiles/23346/kwena-maphaka) • [10](https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/8c9901b6-fe5b-4b87-bb65-9f5795af8db3.pdf)
## International career
**T20I debut.** On August 23, 2024, at Trinidad's Brian Lara Stadium, Maphaka played his first T20I for South Africa against the [West Indies](https://www.edgepedia.org/west-indies), and at 18 years and 137 days he became the youngest man from South Africa ever to appear in international cricket.[4](https://www.rajasthanroyals.com/latest-news/kwena-maphaka-odi-debut-south-africa-vs-pakistan-2024) • [7](https://crex.com/player/kwena-maphaka-82M)
**ODI debut.** Two weeks before his Test debut, he played his first ODI against Pakistan at Newlands, Cape Town, on December 19, 2024, taking 4/72 and bowling a delivery clocked at 151kph.[4](https://www.rajasthanroyals.com/latest-news/kwena-maphaka-odi-debut-south-africa-vs-pakistan-2024) • [5](https://www.cricket.com.au/players/CA%3A8664)
**Test debut.** He was the 134th player to play a Test for South Africa since readmission.[7](https://crex.com/player/kwena-maphaka-82M)
**Breakout against Australia.** On August 10, 2025, the 19-year-old took a career-best 4/20 in a T20I against Australia, dismissing [Tim David](https://www.edgepedia.org/tim-david), Mitchell Owen, Adam Zampa, and Ben Dwarshuis. His fourth delivery sent Owen's off-stump cartwheeling at 144kph, and he conceded only 14 runs in 11 deliveries to Tim David, the best return of any South African bowler in the match; Australia won by 17 runs.[6](https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/teenage-tearaway-maphaka-announces-himself-against-australia) • [12](https://www.yugmarg.com/edition/2025/08/11/pages.pdf)
## Bowling style and development
Maphaka is a left-arm quick known for pace, swing, and the ability to generate bounce, and has been clocked at speeds over 140kph.[3](https://www.durbanssupergiants.com/players/kwena-maphaka-90908-profile) • [9](https://www.mumbaiindians.com/players/90908-kwena-maphaka-profile) He is about six feet tall, and his action, which has drawn comparison with [Jasprit Bumrah](https://www.edgepedia.org/jasprit-bumrah), places significant strain on his body according to former South Africa captains [Graeme Smith](https://www.edgepedia.org/graeme-smith), Shaun Pollock, and [AB de Villiers](https://www.edgepedia.org/ab-de-villiers), who cautioned against expecting him to become Bumrah.[13](https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/dont-put-pressure-on-him-to-be-bumrah-south-africa-legends-smith-pollock-de-villiers-on-18-year-old-kwena-maphaka-101736697399345.html)
His development has been shaped by senior figures in South African cricket. At Mumbai Indians he worked under bowling coach [Lasith Malinga](https://www.edgepedia.org/lasith-malinga), Jasprit Bumrah, and head coach [Mark Boucher](https://www.edgepedia.org/mark-boucher).[9](https://www.mumbaiindians.com/players/90908-kwena-maphaka-profile)
**Injury and workload.** Maphaka has played only two first-class matches for the Lions, and in the second of them, in October 2025, he suffered a grade three hamstring tear that sidelined him for more than two months.[14](https://www.sundaytimes.timeslive.co.za/sport/2026-09-03-spotlight-falls-firmly-on-maphaka-as-proteas-seek-to-fill-rabada-void/) At the time of his Test debut he had bowled only 60.5 overs in first-class cricket and had been writing school exams a few months earlier.[15](https://www.gulf-times.com/pdf/2025/01/03/sport-20250103-1.pdf?ts=004119)
## Recognition
Cricket South Africa retained Maphaka on a central contract for the 2026-27 season.[8](https://www.rajasthanroyals.com/latest-news/cricket-south-africa-central-contract-2026-27-kwena-maphaka) CSA's stakeholder newsletter names him, alongside [Lhuan-dre Pretorius](https://www.edgepedia.org/lhuan-dre-pretorius) and [Dewald Brevis](https://www.edgepedia.org/dewald-brevis), among the young players its Talent Acceleration Programme has moved into domestic and national teams.[16](https://cricket.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/mail_DTP_CSA-273-STAKEHOLDER-NEWSLETTER-DEC_V1_2.pdf) When Kagiso Rabada was ruled out of a Test series against Australia through injury in 2026, Donald said it was time for Maphaka to find his identity in red-ball cricket and step up for South Africa.[14](https://www.sundaytimes.timeslive.co.za/sport/2026-09-03-spotlight-falls-firmly-on-maphaka-as-proteas-seek-to-fill-rabada-void/)
## References
1. [Kwena Maphaka Profile, NDTV Sports](https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/players/114998-kwena-maphaka-playerprofile)
2. [Kwena Maphaka Profile, Cricbuzz](https://www.cricbuzz.com/profiles/23346/kwena-maphaka)
3. [Kwena Maphaka, Durban's Super Giants](https://www.durbanssupergiants.com/players/kwena-maphaka-90908-profile)
4. [Kwena Maphaka sizzles on ODI debut for South Africa, Rajasthan Royals](https://www.rajasthanroyals.com/latest-news/kwena-maphaka-odi-debut-south-africa-vs-pakistan-2024)
5. [Kwena Maphaka, cricket.com.au](https://www.cricket.com.au/players/CA%3A8664)
6. [Teenage tearaway Maphaka announces himself against Australia, ICC](https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/teenage-tearaway-maphaka-announces-himself-against-australia)
7. [Kwena Maphaka Profile, Career & Stats, CREX](https://crex.com/player/kwena-maphaka-82M)
8. [Kwena Maphaka retains Cricket South Africa's central contract for 2026-27 season, Rajasthan Royals](https://www.rajasthanroyals.com/latest-news/cricket-south-africa-central-contract-2026-27-kwena-maphaka)
9. [Kwena Maphaka Profile, Mumbai Indians](https://www.mumbaiindians.com/players/90908-kwena-maphaka-profile)
10. [Betway SA20 Season 4 Player Auction List](https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/8c9901b6-fe5b-4b87-bb65-9f5795af8db3.pdf)
11. [Kwena Maphaka becomes youngest Proteas' test debutant, SABC News](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPBB--GtWpI)
12. [Yugmarg edition, August 11, 2025](https://www.yugmarg.com/edition/2025/08/11/pages.pdf)
13. [South Africa legends on 18-year-old Kwena Maphaka, Hindustan Times](https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/dont-put-pressure-on-him-to-be-bumrah-south-africa-legends-smith-pollock-de-villiers-on-18-year-old-kwena-maphaka-101736697399345.html)
14. [Spotlight falls firmly on Maphaka as Proteas seek to fill Rabada void, Sunday Times](https://www.sundaytimes.timeslive.co.za/sport/2026-09-03-spotlight-falls-firmly-on-maphaka-as-proteas-seek-to-fill-rabada-void/)
15. [Gulf Times sport pages, January 3, 2025](https://www.gulf-times.com/pdf/2025/01/03/sport-20250103-1.pdf?ts=004119)
16. [CSA Stakeholder Newsletter, December](https://cricket.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/mail_DTP_CSA-273-STAKEHOLDER-NEWSLETTER-DEC_V1_2.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Cricket › Cricket people and teams › People › Men's international cricketers › South African men's cricketers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license