Two passionate cricket fans walked away with prized memorabilia after a tense bidding war for items autographed by Durban-born cricket star Keshav Maharaj at the Midlands Hindu Society’s Diwali Festival auction this weekend.
The first item to go under the hammer was Maharaj’s number 16 Proteas T-shirt, which attracted significant interest from both the crowd and online bidders.
After intense discussions and phone calls, the T-shirt was sold for R15 000 to Vishal Parbhoodeen, a devoted fan of Maharaj.
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Parbhoodeen, who has followed Maharaj’s career closely since he became a national player, was thrilled to win the item.
He said the shirt, a collector’s item, would likely be framed and displayed in his home.
I’m very excited, Keshav Maharaj is mine and my daughters’ favourite player. This is for me and my daughters, Akshara and Taarika.
“But this was also a great moment for me to donate to the Midlands Hindu Society as it is for a worthy cause as well,” he said.
The bidding reached new heights when Maharaj’s cricket bat, used during the 2024 season, went up for auction.
Starting at R3 000, the bids quickly climbed to R50 000 after fierce competition.
The winning bid came from Nishal Mohun, who purchased the bat for his son, Maahir, a St Charles College pupil and avid cricketer.
We are full supporters of the Midlands Hindu Society and I’m glad this opportunity was presented to us by them.
“We are just happy to participate in the auction,” Mohun said.
Maahir expressed his excitement about using the bat for his own matches, saying, “I’m thrilled my dad got it, and I can’t wait to use it for practice and games.”
Maharaj, South Africa’s top-ranked ODI cricketer and captain of the Durban Super Giants, donated the signed items to support the Society’s Diwali Festival and its charitable causes.
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The festival featured a range of cultural events, including a bhangra DJ competition, a float procession, and vibrant dance performances.
The auction was one of Saturday’s main attractions, while the festival wrapped up on Sunday with a spiritual focus, including a mass hawan and a grand aarti ceremony.
