IPL 2025: AB de Villiers Endorses Ryan Rickleton for Wankhede Stadium
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Synopsis
As IPL 2025 approaches, AB de Villiers highlights Ryan Rickelton's suitability for Wankhede Stadium's pitches. With MI's opener against CSK looming, de Villiers believes Rickleton's explosive batting style will shine alongside Rohit Sharma.
Key Takeaways
- Ryan Rickelton is set for his IPL debut.
- Strong performance in SA20 with 336 runs.
- Wankhede Stadium pitches favor his style.
- Potential opening duo with Rohit Sharma.
- Exciting challenges for opposing bowlers.
New Delhi, March 18 (NationPress) As the Mumbai Indians gear up for their IPL 2025 opener against the esteemed Chennai Super Kings on March 23, cricket icon AB de Villiers has expressed confidence that the pitches at the Wankhede Stadium will favor the dynamic batting style of Ryan Rickelton.
Rickleton, who was acquired by MI during last year's mega auction in Jeddah, is poised to make his IPL debut. The talented left-handed opener and wicketkeeper recently showcased his skills in the SA20, where he emerged as the fourth-highest run-scorer for MI Cape Town, amassing 336 runs in eight matches with an impressive average of 48 and a strike rate of 178.72.
“It’s wonderful to see Rickleton receiving a solid chance in the IPL. He’s currently in the prime of his career, excelling across all formats. He’s a clever cricketer with the ability to be remarkably explosive. I believe the wicket at Wankhede Stadium will perfectly complement his game, especially alongside Rohit Sharma, who is also finding his form,” de Villiers remarked during the Star Sports Press Room show on Tuesday.
Rickleton's recent performance for South Africa has been stellar, including a double century in a Test match against Pakistan and a maiden ODI century against Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy opener.
With Ishan Kishan moving to Sunrisers Hyderabad, de Villiers, a JioStar analyst for IPL 2025, expressed enthusiasm about the potential opening partnership of Rickleton and Rohit for MI, suggesting it could present significant challenges for bowlers throughout the tournament.
“I really like the prospect of a right-left batting combination for MI this season. The duo of Rohit and Rickleton, the double ‘R’s, is likely to be exceptional. We know that Wankhede Stadium is tough for bowlers, both in terms of defending totals and controlling the run rate.
“Thus, I believe this opening pair will capitalize on that. I anticipate that MI's opening combination will be explosive this season, making it extremely challenging for bowlers to compete against them, given their right-left combination,” he concluded.
