'It's a Nice Feeling to Hear ‘Ram Siya Ram’ in Background': South Africa's Keshav Maharaj

Team India’s recently-concluded South Africa tour witnessed a fierce contest between the two teams across formats. The visitors levelled the T20Is and Tests and won the ODI series 2-1. Besides the game, it was the entry of Proteas spinner Keshav Maharaj into the field that kept garnering attention.

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Playing devotional music at a cricket stadium is a rarity but whenever Maharaj walked out to bat, the in-stadia DJ would play the track ‘Ram Siya Ram’ from the movie released in 2023, Adipurush. During the ODI series, India captain KL Rahul was prompted to ask the left-arm spinner, “Every time you enter, they play that.” Whereas in the second Test at Newlands, Cape Town, Virat Kohli was seen standing with folded hands when the song was played.

Maharaj has finally spoken on the matter and revealed that he himself requested for the song to be played when he enters the field.

“It was obviously something I put forward to the media lady and requested that song to be played,” Maharaj was quoted as saying by PTI.

For the Durban-born cricketer of Indian origin, Lord Ram is Maharaj’s greatest strength.

“For me, God’s been my greatest blessing and if I get an opportunity it’s the least I can do and it gets you in the zone and get that respect from other players. Respecting religion and culture is important but it’s a nice feeling to hear ‘Ram Siya Ram’ being played in the background,” Maharaj said.

With 158 wickets from 50 Tests, Maharaj is perhaps the most effective slow bowler that Proteas have had since the end of apartheid. Does he at times feel that he isn’t celebrated enough in South Africa as he plays most Tests in conditions that don’t suit his bowling? A case in point, he didn’t get a single over in the Newlands Test against India.

“Unfortunately, you live in a world where fast bowlers are highlighted and we have had some amazing greats to have played the game and I am here to do my job and whether I am celebrated or not doesn’t really make a difference to me,” he calmly replied.

“I want to contribute in a positive way for the team and if the team goes in the right way, then I have done my job,” he added.

(With PTI Inputs)