Allan Donald: “Kohli, Bumrah would elevate SA20 to another level”

Allan Donald, the legendary fast bowler from South Africa and an ambassador for the SA20, has shared his enthusiasm for the prospect of integrating Indian players into the league. When he was inquired about which Indian cricketers he would like to see in the tournament, Donald quickly mentioned two of India’s most prominent stars: Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah.

“Oh my goodness, where do I even begin? Where do I start in selecting a player from there? Wow, this is something else. If I were a batter, I would be Virat Kohli in that scenario. If it comes to a bowler, undeniably Bumrah. Without a doubt,” Donald expressed with excitement during a session organized by SA20.

Donald continued to explain the influence that Indian players might wield on the SA20, indicating how the tournament could change significantly with their participation.

“My goodness, can you picture that? Can you genuinely visualize some Indian players—or if you could choose one? Oh, that would be incredibly special. That would elevate it to another level. That would increase how significant this tournament can become if given the chance. Consider two—oh, imagine having two per team. But I suppose we’ll stick with one. I would choose those two players for myself—Kohli and Bumrah. If I had to choose between a batter or a bowler—100 percent guaranteed,” Donald stated.

The iconic cricketer also expressed his passion for several promising young fast bowlers, especially three talents from South Africa: Eathen Bosch, Codi Yusuf, and Kwena Maphaka.

“There are around three bowlers—South African bowlers—who I am very eager to watch, and those three individuals are Eathen Bosch, who is playing for the Pretoria Capitals; Codi Yusuf, playing for the Paarl Royals; and the young Kwena Maphaka,” remarked Donald.

He commended Bosch for his determination and his recent selection for the national team.

“Bosch, who is probably the most seasoned—he has been around for some time. I’m really happy for him that he has finally received a South African call-up. He has been quite close and has faced challenges getting in due to other players who have been excelling,” he commented.

Donald expressed particular enthusiasm for Kwena Maphaka, an 18-year-old bowler whose skill and poise have garnered admiration from many.

“Young Kwena Maphaka, who is just 18—you know, I am convinced—the entire Paarl community is very excited to have him here. There is major enthusiasm surrounding his presence in this squad. I think we’re going to witness a lot from him this year,” he added.

Donald emphasized Maphaka’s potential, forecasting a bright future ahead for him.
“Many experiences will be encountered by Kwena Maphaka. I believe he’s incredibly talented; he’s just exceptional, you know. So, yes, he’s going to experience both good and bad days, but he appears to possess a mindset that is quite remarkably calm and unaffected by too many problems when things go wrong. He simply wants to remain engaged in the struggle continuously. Therefore, I believe he’s going to be a major attraction this coming January. I look forward to witnessing his success, I hope,” Donald finished.