'I think I got...' - Keshav Maharaj opens about how he could have missed ODI World Cup 2023 in India

Star South Africa spinner Keshav Maharaj came up with a confession that he was going through a fear of getting out of action from the cricketing field due to an injury that he sustained at the beginning of the last year. Maharaj sustained this injury during the second Test against West Indies.

It all happened when the left-arm spinner went on to celebrate after scalping Kyle Mayers’ wicket. Later, he was rushed to the hospital for the treatment of the Achilles injury. However, he also revealed how he went through the recovery phase and the process of preparing for the ODI World Cup 2023 in India.

"I would have been shattered if I didn't get there" - Keshav Maharaj about playing ODI World Cup 2023

“It did cross my mind. But I think I got over it very quickly when I said to myself, 'I need to play in the World Cup. I would have been shattered if I didn't get there [to the World Cup], but I wanted to give myself the best chance of being there. It would have hurt but that was extra motivation,” said Keshav Maharaj to ESPN Cricinfo.

“I wanted to have that fairy-tale story, but getting to the semi-final was a huge thing. It was not meant to be but the cricket we played was phenomenal. We went down with a fight. And we were well received when we came back and hopefully, we can build on that,” he added later.

Furthermore, the 34-year-old also spoke about his desire to be available for South Africa in the upcoming ODI World Cup 2027, which is set to be played in his home country South Africa.

“If South Africa want me, I am going to try and go for as long as possible, especially up until the 2027 World Cup. That's my first goal. Hopefully, we can play the next three ICC events because I will feel very unfulfilled if I don't win a World Cup,” he said.