Kwena Maphaka

Maphaka was named in South Africa's 16-member squad for the three-match ODI series against Australia, which began on 24 September 2026. The 20-year-old left-arm pacer had taken five wickets from three ODIs for South Africa at that point.

Maphaka was selected in South Africa's 15-member squad for the white-ball tour of Namibia, which included a T20I tri-series with Namibia and Zimbabwe and a three-match ODI series. The squad was led by new captain Bjorn Fortuin, and Maphaka had 18 T20I wickets at that stage.

Maphaka received a Cricket South Africa central contract for the 2026-27 season, which runs from 1 June 2026 to 31 May 2027. He was recognised as one of the national team's standout performers from the previous year, while playing for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026.

Maphaka was named in South Africa's 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from 7 February. It was his first inclusion in the squad for that tournament, and he had taken 15 wickets in 13 T20Is at the time.

Kwena Maphaka produced a standout spell against Australia in the first T20I of South Africa's 2025 tour, taking 4/20. The performance made him the youngest bowler from a full member nation to take four wickets in a men's T20I, surpassing Wayne Parnell's record.

Maphaka reflected on his historic Test debut shortly after becoming South Africa's youngest men's Test debutant. The milestone highlighted his rapid rise from schoolboy cricket to the senior international stage.