Credit: ICC
South Africa opener Ryan Rickelton is backing himself to be impressive with his bat in the upcoming three-match T20 International (T20I) series against Australia to be played from August 10 to 16. Darwin will host the initial two games while Cairns will host the third match. The series will be important for both teams as they will look to solidify their preparation for the T20 World Cup 2026 to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka in February-March 2026. South Africa, who recently became the World Test Champions after beating the Aussies in June, will chase their maiden title win in the marquee event to be held after six months.
Three days prior to the opening match, Rickelton spoke to the media and said he is striving to make his place in the Protea T20I team and the upcoming Aussie challenge is the opportunity for him to prove himself with his bat and win the opening spot in his national side to feature in the upcoming T20 World Cup. “I'm still trying to establish myself in the T20I side but I don't think there'll be any expectation for me to change anything that I've been doing in these last two years. It's just an opportunity for me to hopefully claim that opening spot for this South African side, going into the World Cup and further on past that. The way the team is structured fits the mould of how they want me to play too, so I'm pretty comfortable with what's required. I am always looking to land that first punch and get the side off to a good start no matter who's alongside me at the top," said the 29-year-old.
Ryan Rickelton believes playing against top three teams will help him prepare better for T20 World Cup 2026
Rickelton feels playing against top three T20I-ranked teams will help him gear up well for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. "If you look at the fixtures lined up for the T20 World Cup, we've got some big competition and some big rivals. If we can put a good foot forward and play quite well and match what we want to try and replicate in a few months' time, especially against quality opposition, that's really important to the team and the individuals as well," added Rickelton.
After the white-ball competition against Australia, South Africa will travel to England next month and the Protea side will be taking on the second-ranked English team in three T20Is there as well. In December, South Africa will be clashing against the top-ranked India in a five-match T20I series in the latter’s backyard. Rickelton has played 13 T20Is for the Proteas in which he has scored 263 runs with a fifty.
