Khaya Zondo - South Africa - Batsman

Khayelihle Zondo or Khaya Zondo as he is popularly known as is a middle-order batsman from South Africa. Like AB de Villiers and Mark Boucher, Zondo's cricket career also started through one of South Africa's junior cricket programme, Bakers Mini Cricket.

He developed his skills at Westville Boys High and at the age of 15, he joined a Premier League club - Pinetown. Zondo, who had been a part of KwaZulu Natal's provincial teams at Under (U) - 13, U-15, U-17 and U-19 levels, made his first-class debut for KwaZulu Natal at the age of 17 in November 2007. Soon after he made his debut for Durban's franchise team, Dolphins. However, he failed to become a regular in the side.

In 2011/12, Zondo was chosen to be a part of a seventh domestic franchise, Impi. This team comprised of players who remained on the fringes of their original franchise, players like Zondo. Playing in the domestic T20 competition, Zondo was the top-scorer for Impi, scoring 259 runs in 11 matches that also included a century against Cobras.

Soon after, Zondo became a regular in the Dolphins side. In the first-class season of 2013/14, he was the second highest run-scorer for his franchise, managing a total of 541 runs at an average of 38.64, including two tons.

He was part of the South African A team that visited India in July-August 2015. In the four matches of the tri-series that also involved Australia A, he scored 154 runs at an average of 38.50. His success in the tri-series saw him earn a place in the South African T20I squad against India in October 2015, where he was named as a replacement for the injured Rilee Rossouw.