Keshav Maharaj to captaining South Africa in post-World Cup T20I series

Keshav Maharaj will captain a fresh 15-man South Africa squad for the five-match T20I series in New Zealand, scheduled from March 15 to 25. With IPL-bound stars absent following the 2026 World Cup, selectors named five uncapped players: batters Connor Esterhuizen, Dian Forrester, and Jordan Hermann, plus allrounder Eathan Bosch and teenage pacer Nqobani Mokoena, who impressed during the SA20. Returning to the mix are fast bowler Gerald Coetzee and opener Tony de Zorzi.

Head coach Shukri Conrad views this tour as a crucial platform for fringe talents to showcase their skills internationally. He praised Maharaj’s proven leadership and the batting unit's attacking potential. Historically, this series marks the first bilateral double-header featuring both senior men’s and women’s teams playing back-to-back. The action begins at Bay Oval, moving through Hamilton, Auckland, and Wellington, before concluding in Christchurch, thoroughly testing these promising youngsters in distinct foreign conditions against the host nation.