THE MAHARAJ OF RAJASTHAN ROYALLY ENJOYING THE IPL

There was a sense of Keshav Maharaj fulfilling his lifelong destiny when he was called up to the Rajasthan Royals squad for this season's Indian Premier League.

Rajasthan is, of course, known as “The Land of the Kings” and is the epicentre of aristocratic nobility of former India.

The historical forts and palaces that adorn the Northwestern state remain a visible reminder of its regal past.

It was the playground of the Maharajas - which is, of course, the Durban's Super Giants' captain’s surname and his ancestral link to the city he now calls his second home.

"It is a privilege to be part of the Rajasthan Royals squad. Playing my first game was a beautiful experience, and the fans in Jaipur are amazing," Maharaj said.

"It's a very nostalgic feeling coming back to where my great-great-great-grandparents were born. Playing for the Rajasthan side is one of the highlights of my career."

Although Maharaj is proudly South African, as he stated upon arriving in India on his first tour of the subcontinent with the Proteas all those years ago, the 34-year-old has openly expressed his affection for his 'homeland' particularly India’s significance to his family.

He is also a practising Hindu - the largest religion in India - as he can often be seen celebrating a wicket by offering praise to his Gods.

“India is always special to me. It is the land of my forefathers, I'm probably the only Hindu that's debuted for South Africa post apartheid,” Maharaj said.

"Every time I step on the field I'm also trying to make everyone out there excited and proud of me for what I am doing on the field. 

“I think for my family, especially, it is one of the highlights of my career being able to don a Rajasthan shirt. It is emotional for them to see all the years of hard work coming together.”

The left-arm spinner is certainly the blueprint for any young cricketer hoping to reach the highest level.

There are few more studious professionals on the international circuit. Equally, Maharaj possesses the determination and willpower to prove all his detractors wrong.

After initially being pigeonholed as a red-ball specialist, he has transformed opinion in the white-ball arena as the DSG left-arm spinner is now the No 1 ranked ODI spinner in the world and also a highly respected T20 bowler that has gained a call up to the Royals' IPL squad that already possess Indian superstar spin duo Ravi Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal.

But Maharaj has already shown that he has a role to play alongside Ashwin and Chahal by claiming 2/23 in just his second IPL match against the Punjab Kings.

With the ICC T20 World Cup in the US and Caribbean just a couple of months away, Maharaj is certainly using this opportunity to extract all the knowledge he can whilst in the Royals camp.

“To play with someone like Ash (Ashwin) and Yuzi Bhai (Chahal) is one of the greatest learnings of my career,” Maharaj said.

“They are people who have excelled in various formats of the game. I am always picking Ash’s brain. He is always someone to pass on knowledge and experience.

“And Yuzi Bhai, there is a reason why he is probably the best white-ball leg spinner in the world.

“I am someone who does a lot of research and watches a lot of videos. I would like to think it's my wit, and the homework I do off the field that translates to on the field.”

Maharaj led Durban's Super Giants to their first-ever Betway SA20 final where they ultimately fell short against the Sunrisers Eastern Cape at Newlands in Season 2.

With the Rajasthan Royals currently topping the IPL table, there is a chance for Maharaj to go one step further with his adopted family to be once again crowned the Kings of the IPL.