South African spinner Keshav Maharaj shares his personal connection to 'Ram Siya Ram' song

Devotional music being played at a cricket ground is a rarity but when South African spinner Keshav Maharaj arrives to bat, the in-stadia DJ gets a special request to play one song: "Ram Siya Ram Jai Jai Ram." In one recent match during the recent ODI series in South Africa, Indian wicketkeeper KL Rahul asked him: 'Every time you enter, they play that song". During the Test series, which ended in a 1-1 draw, the song was played during when Maharaj came to the crease. On that occasion, Virat Kohli joined his hands together when the song played and posed as if he pulled a bow string. The video had gone viral on social media.

Keshav Maharaj regards the 'Ram Siya Ram' song as a mark of his devotion to Lord Hanuman and Lord Ram. "That is my entrance song. I am a devotee of Lord Hanuman and Lord Ram so I think it is a fitting song," said Maharaj.

"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," he added.


"It was obviously something I put forward to the media lady and requested that song to be played," Maharaj, the Durban Supergiants skipper in the upcoming SA20, he said.

Maharaj, set to lead the Durban Super Giants in the SA20 League, sees the tournament as a valuable preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Regarding the SA20 Cricket League, Maharaj noted the different challenges in transitioning from Test to T20 cricket. With 158 wickets in 50 Tests, Maharaj is hailed as one of South Africa's most effective slow bowlers in the post-apartheid era.

The India Test series concluded with a 1-1 draw, with South Africa taking the first Test and India responding with a decisive victory in the next match. Maharaj acknowledged India as a fierce opponent, describing the series as challenging and exciting.