New Delhi, April 3 (NationPress) Mumbai Indians' head coach Mahela Jayawardene revealed that opting to start with South African wicketkeeper-batter Ryan Rickelton as their opener alongside Rohit Sharma in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 was a straightforward choice, primarily because Quinton de Kock serves as a backup overseas wicketkeeper for the team.

Despite some skepticism regarding Rickelton's selection over the more seasoned de Kock, he proved his worth by scoring a magnificent 83 in the Mumbai Indians' six-wicket victory against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), which featured an impressive eight sixes.

As the Mumbai Indians gear up for their first afternoon match of IPL 2026 against Delhi Capitals on Saturday, Rickelton is eager to capitalize on the short square boundaries of Arun Jaitley Stadium and provide the five-time champions with another explosive start.

“When we acquired Ryan at the major auction, we recognized his potential and what he could achieve. He has been a part of our South African team, and his performance over the last two years, both domestically and internationally, has been exceptional. The combination of him and Rohit last year was highly effective for us,” Jayawardene stated.

“Bringing Quinton back allowed us to seize an opportunity. Given the high prices local Indian wicketkeeper-batters fetched in the minor auction, we needed a backup—our only option was Robin Minz. We decided on an overseas backup, and Quinny was a perfect fit,” he explained in response to a question from IANS during the pre-match press conference on Friday.

Throughout the IPL, Rickelton has played in 15 innings, accumulating 469 runs at an average of 33.5 and a remarkable strike rate of 156, which includes four half-centuries. In 2026, he has been in outstanding form—scoring 632 runs in 19 innings at an average of 42.1 and an even more impressive strike rate of 163, featuring three fifties and one century.

Jayawardene emphasized that the franchise values stability in its playing eleven, making Rickelton’s inclusion a clear choice. “He understands our strategies and has been consistently scoring runs. We have good depth in our options, and we have no intention of altering that combination,” he affirmed.

“Continuity is crucial for us as a franchise. The entire group is integral, and the players embrace this. I believe Quinny is not disheartened by not playing; he’s part of a structure, and since Ryan is performing exceptionally well, we didn’t want to disrupt what’s functioning effectively,” he continued.

“Ryan complements Rohit excellently in the middle, making it an easier decision for us to start with him and maintain that continuity, fully backing our players,” he elaborated.

Regarding the upcoming match against DC, who recently triumphed over Lucknow Super Giants by six wickets, Jayawardene acknowledged that the Axar Patel-led team will pose significant challenges on their home ground.

“It should be an exciting match. They are a formidable team. Every team presents a challenge at home in the IPL, and we recognize that. This is their first game here, which might offer us a slight advantage. We’ll continue to play to our strengths,” he remarked.

“We will need to adjust our tactics for the conditions. Our preparation will focus on our game without overthinking the opponent, while also respecting them and aiming to play our best cricket,” he added.

Jayawardene also expressed confidence in young Afghanistan mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar, despite his conceding 51 runs against KKR, labeling him as a long-term asset. “He’s a prospect for the future. We believe that with his height and skill, he will improve with more game time,” he noted.

“He didn’t have much game time leading up to the IPL, as his match against Sri Lanka in the UAE was canceled. I’m not concerned; he bowled well overall,” he stated.

“He had a few poor deliveries during the match, but overall, his execution and ball speed were commendable. We faced a tough wicket where even established bowlers like Narine and Varun conceded runs, so I am satisfied with his performance. Having that X-Factor bowler among our squad, alongside Mitch, Jacksy, and Mayank, provides us with diverse options for varying conditions,” he concluded.