Meet SA Cricketer Keshav Maharaj Who Is Married To Indian Kathak Dancer & Has Om Sign On Bat

Originating in Durban, South Africa, Keshav Maharaj has made a name for himself in the cricket world. He has had a great impact on the cricketing world as a well-known left-arm orthodox spinner and rising cricket star. His cricketing career with a deep-seated love for the game which was cultivated throughout his early years in Durban.

Maharaj began his career in cricket on the local circuit and rose through the ranks quickly, becoming one of South Africa’s most talented spin bowlers. He began an impressive international career with his Test debut in November 2016 and was added to the One Day International (ODI) team in May 2017. In just six years, Maharaj has developed into a key player for South Africa, exhibiting his bowling skills on a global stage.

However, not many people may be aware of Maharaj’s incredible journey in first-class cricket outside of his well-established international career. Amazingly, he made his KwaZulu-Natal debut in the 2006–07 season at the young age of 16. After consistently impressive seasons, he earned his place on the Dolphins team in 2009–10, where he continued to shine.

Maharaj has been leading South Africa’s bowling attack in recent times, especially when Dale Steyn has not been there. Notably, he is not only an exceptional bowler but also a flexible hitter who can frequently swing the balance in favor of South Africa and the Dolphins. His multifaceted skills make him a valuable asset in the cricketing world, both with the ball and the bat.

While we talked a lot about his career, not many people know that his personal life is as intriguing as his career. Having Indian Hindu roots and an Indian wife, Keshav Maharaj possesses so many things that can easily captivate us.

Keshav Maharaj’s roots are in Uttar Pradesh

Keshav Maharaj’s connection to India is widely acknowledged. Maharaj was born on February 7, 1990, in Durban, South Africa. His parents were Atmanand and Kanchan Mala, and they were also born in South Africa. However, Maharaj’s family originally hails from Sultanpur, a renowned Uttar Pradesh city located on the banks of the Gomti River.

Maharaj’s forefathers made the momentous choice to go to South Africa in 1874, in search of better employment possibilities. Keshav Maharaj was raised in South Africa, yet he still has a strong emotional bond with India.

His Indian wife, Lerisha Munsamy, and their charming love story

The charming love story of South African cricket star Keshav Maharaj and skilled Kathak dancer Lerisha Munsamy is much more romantic than most Bollywood movies. They were engaged in 2019, but the pandemic and a personal tragedy caused their wedding to be postponed. They eventually got married in 2022 while adhering to Indian customs. It is evidence of Keshav’s strong ties to Indian culture.

However, what is more intriguing is that his Indian wife is also renowned in her own way. Lerisha Munsamy has a sizable follower base of 47.1K on Instagram. Her husband, Keshav Maharaj, a cricket player, is frequently featured in her blogs, where they discuss dinner dates, activities, and family getaways. Nevertheless, her dance videos, showcasing her exceptional Kathak skills, steal the show.

Keshav Maharaj and Lerisha Munsamy’s love story seems like a romantic Bollywood movie that has love, obstacles, and much more. Like many other players, their love story began with mutual friends. They became closer after a few meetings, which eventually resulted in the start of their romantic journey. Notably, a charming anecdote makes their initial dating phase more special. Lerisha was late for their first date, but Keshav’s grace and patience won her over and proved he was the real green flag.

Additionally, due to their dissimilar cultural origins, developing their connection further was a special obstacle. Keshav made the thoughtful choice to approach his parents instead of hurrying them. Surprisingly, he learned a Kathak dance with Lerisha, and they performed it on his mother’s 50th birthday. Keshav’s mother was thrilled with the traditional performance and gave her blessing for their marriage. Their love story is made much more memorable by the fact that Lerisha was accepted as a daughter-in-law because she appreciated and loved Indian culture.

Keshav Maharaj is a devout Hindu

While we all know that Keshav Maharaj loves to flaunt his Indian roots, it comes as no surprise that he is also a devout Hindu. A well-known devotee of Lord Hanuman, he often visits temples before matches to seek blessings from Bajrangbali.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Keshav Maharaj (@keshavmaharaj16)

Even on October 17, 2023, during the South Africa vs. Netherlands’ ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 match, an unexpected result made headlines when the Dutch unexpectedly defeated the South African squad. Apart from the shocking defeat, there was another interesting conversation topic, which revolved around South Africa’s vice-captain, Keshav Maharaj, and a little but significant detail about his cricket bat.

His bat featured a sticker of Om

An ‘Om’ sticker on Maharaj’s bat attracted notice and sparked a flurry of internet debates. One of the most important mantras in Hinduism, “Om,” is a highly respected Hindu mantra. Therefore, it was very symbolic that a cricket player would use it on their bat. With this, he showed respect for his religious and cultural traditions by placing an ‘Om’ sticker on his bat. Many people appreciated this gesture and acknowledged its significance.