IPL 2024: Feel for Kwena Maphaka, says Dale Steyn, backs MI pacer after tough debut

New Delhi: South African pace sensation Kwena Maphaka will only learn and improve from his forgettable debut for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024.

The Under-19 World Cup star Maphaka was punished by Sunrisers Hyderabad batters on his IPL debut on Wednesday. The 17-year-old conceded 66 runs in his four overs and couldn’t take a wicket.

It was the third worst bowling figures in IPL history, as Mumbai slumped to 31-run loss to SRH in Hyderabad in a match where the record highest aggregate total of 523 runs in a T20 game was scored.

Hyderabad scored 277/3 after being invited to bat first, posting the highest total in the tournament’s 17-year history. Mumbai made 246/5 as a total of 38 sixes were hit in the match, the most in a single match of the tournament.

Maphaka received support from his compatriot Steyn after bowling the most expensive spell by Mumbai bowler in IPL.

I woke up feeling for Kwena Maphaka today, but I know he’s surrounded by some amazing people at MI and he’s gana be absolutely fine.
His first experience, regardless of result or performance, should still be the most amazing cricket experience he’s ever had.
At just 17, it’s…

— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) March 28, 2024

“I woke up feeling for Kwena Maphaka today, but I know he’s surrounded by some amazing people at MI and he’s gonna be absolutely fine. His first experience, regardless of result or performance, should still be the most amazing cricket experience he’s ever had. At just 17, it’s only upwards from here. Well done young man,” Steyn posted on ‘X’.

Multiple records were broken in the match with Abhishek Sharma hitting the quickest half century for SRH in 16 balls, taking two balls less than his batting partner Travis Head, who had bettered the 20-ball mark of David Warner in the same match.

Mumbai have lost both their opening matches under new captain Hardik Pandya and host Rajasthan Royals at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday, April 1.