Mannered Maharaj bemused by Ranchi's strange questions

The men's international cricket circus doesn't often roll into Ranchi. With India boasting 54 grounds that have seen action at that level, it isn't difficult to understand why the city has hosted only two Tests, five ODIs and three T20Is since making its debut in January 2013.

So Sunday's second ODI is a bigger deal there than it might have been in other cities. Or perhaps not. The good cricket people of Ranchi - as represented by the press - are, it seems, more interested in other matters. "Are you missing Dhoni?" Keshav Maharaj was asked at a press conference on Saturday (October 8). Maharaj is among the most polite players anywhere in world sport, so he didn't snap: "Dhoni who?"

He also didn't point out that his Test career started almost two years after MS Dhoni played his last match in the format. Neither did Maharaj say he had featured in only four ODIs and no T20Is when Dhoni called time on a career that comprised 538 matches for India.

The good people of Ranchi, cricketminded and not, do have reason to miss Dhoni. But that didn't mean a left-arm spinner from the other side of the world should care a hoot that the undisputed favourite son of the "City of Waterfalls" no longer graced the international stage.

Maharaj has too many manners to say anything of that sort. Instead he said: "I never got the opportunity to play against him but I would love to have a chat to him. He has been a world-class performer, especially from a leadership point of view. There's a lot of things people can learn from him; just his calmness on the field."

There was more insular navel-gazing where that came from, as evidenced in an exchange with a reporter that began with: "Since your name is Keshav Maharaj, why are you not giving your replies in Hindi?" Maharaj would have been within his rights to say his country already has 11 official languages. But he gave a shy laugh, and said, "I wish I could reply in Hindi ..." He was interrupted by the same reporter with: "But your name is Keshav Maharaj." Maharaj took a breath before resuming his answer: "Yes, sir, I know my name is Keshav Maharaj, but I'm too far down the family tree to speak Hindi."

The South African's immaculate diplomacy was given another workout when he was asked what he thought of the home side's slow bowlers. "The Indian spinners are world class," he said. "They get exposed to the best batters in the world and you can see their skill levels. I am still learning my trade when it comes to spin bowling and I think I can take a leaf out of most of the Indian spinners' books." Maharaj is four months away from his 33rd birthday. He made his international debut almost six years ago, and has played 45 Tests, 25 ODIs and 21 T20Is, along with 148 first-class matches. If Maharaj is "still learning" Dhoni still wears his hair long.

Maharaj seemed more bemused than amused by the stranger questions he fielded. If nothing else, they served as a distraction from the more pressing business of South Africa needing to put in a more convincing performance, particularly with the ball, than they did in Lucknow on Thursday. They won, by nine runs, but almost came unstuck against a side depleted by the absence of all except the reserves in India's T20 World Cup squad.

A shaky victory would be excused if South Africa didn't need to keep winning to qualify directly for next year's ODI World Cup in India. They are currently in 11th place in the Super League standings with only seven matches left to play, and if they finish outside the top eight they will have to earn their spot in the qualifier in Zimbabwe. The pressure is properly on