Despite MI going down last night to SRH, one of the biggest positives to come out of the game for the Men In Blue was the return to form and team for Ryan Rickelton. Ryan Rickelton was not supposed to play against SRH, but a last-minute injury to Quinton de Kock meant he had to be called in at the last moment. Ryan may not have been ready for the game, and it was a last-minute switch for him. To be ready for a last-minute call-up and then perform takes a lot of character, which he showed last night. Not only did he play, but he also conquered the SRH bowlers.
With no Rohit Sharma in their ranks, Ryan had to shoulder the extra responsibility. He got great support from Will Jacks at the top of the order and later from Naman Dhir and captain Hardik Pandya. But it was he who was the main act and guided the innings forward. He carried his bat and stayed unbeaten till the end. It was not enough in the result, but his ton should not be forgotten as he played a great innings for a side struggling with multiple issues.
Ryan Rickelton’s dazzling ton flattened SRH
MI won the toss and decided to bat first. Ryan Rickelton got his eye in before Will Jacks joined the party. Jacks was doing the bulk of the scoring initially as Ryan Rickelton got in, and then the southpaw joined in. There was no looking back for Ryan, who put on a show for his maiden IPL ton. He got support from the others like Jacks, Naman and Hardik, but the innings revolved around Rickelton. He had scored tons in SA20 in the past, but an IPL hundred is special for anyone, and Rickelton achieved that with flying colours.
He played orthodox cricketing shots and got his rewards in the end. He maintained a great strike-rate and showed the potential he carries, and why he is the ideal replacement for de Kock going forward. He dazzled on a flat track in Mumbai and gave his side more than just a chance of winning the game. Yes, maybe they could have gotten more, but that is being extremely critical of the batting group. Rickelton made sure that the team did not feel the absence of Rohit Sharma that much. They did quite well as the results are there for all to see.
Ryan will hope to continue the good work in the coming games, and it’s a happy headache to have as to which foreigners should play for MI and who shouldn’t. But MI as a whole is really struggling, and there is a long tunnel at the end of it all.
Ryan Rickelton’s Performance Till Date
Ryan Rickelton has not played all the games in IPL 2026. He has been in and out of the side owing to foreigners quota and inconsistency in the selection process. Since it was difficult to accommodate both Quinton and him, he was left out after the veteran got a ton himself. But he kept fighting and regained his place when de Kock got injured and made a dazzling ton. He started the season well with a great 81 off 43 balls against KKR in Mumbai. But then he blew a bit hot and cold after that.
He scored in single digits against DC and RR before getting a start, scoring 37 off 22 balls against RCB in Mumbai. He played poorly against PBKS and was left out of the other games. So, he hadn’t hit his straps quite, and with so many changes in the team, this was always on the cards. He had a decent World Cup for the Proteas, where he made valuable contributions like an unbeaten 45 off 28 balls against the West Indies and 31 off 22 balls against Zimbabwe. He did his bit and has been in decent form.
After this ton, we expect him to get more matches for MI, although their campaign is as good as over. Quinton de Kock might sit on the sidelines for more time, the way he played last night. But we have to wait and see how things go for Ryan and the MI team, who will battle for wounded pride in the subsequent games, one feels. Winning 6 out of 6 looks increasingly difficult for the Men in Blue.
What Lies Ahead
Ryan Rickelton will be hoping to continue his good run when his side faces CSK in Chennai on May 2nd evening in Part 2 of the Greatest Rivalry. MI will fancy their chances of beating CSK. Tonight, we will have RCB taking on GT in Ahmedabad at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium. GT needs a win more than RCB, looking at the points table. Let’s see how this game pans out later tonight.
Also Read: MI VS SRH: Ryan Rickelton’s Masterful Unbeaten Ton Powers MI To 243/5.