Credit: ICC
In the third game of the Champions Trophy 2025, opener Ryan Rickelton shone with his bat and helped South Africa to pummel Afghanistan by 107 runs at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium. The southpaw’s dominating batting show helped the Proteas to post 315 runs on the board and following the target, the Afghan side capitulated on 208 in 43.3 overs. Rickelton, who notched up 103 off 106, became the recipient of the Player of the Match (POTM) award for his stunning innings, which was studded with eight boundaries (seven fours and a maximum).
Rickelton's knock has shown he can fill his successor Quinton de Kock's spot. Following de Kock's ODI retirement, the Protea side had got headache that who's going to fill the legend's shoes but Rickelton has shown he can become the best man to do the job. The century against the Afghan side is his maiden ODI ton. Following Rickelton’s exceptional knock, it’s imperative to know who he is and how he made it to international cricket.
Rickelton made essential contribution to MI’s maiden title win in SA20 League
Rickelton was born on July 11, 1996 in Transvaal, Johannesburg, South Africa. Back in March 2022, he made his international debut for South Africa in a Test match against Bangladesh in Durban. In March 2023, he was handed his ODI debut against the West Indies in East London. He also broke into T20I cricket after five days of his maiden ODI game in March against the Caribbean side. Earlier, he started his first-class career with Gauteng in November 2015. He has also been part of Lions and Jozi Stars in South Africa’s domestic circle. In 2022, he got the opportunity to represent Northamptonshire in the County Championship. The next year, he also donned Yorkshire’s jersey in the County Championship 2023. The talented left-handed batter is the leading run-getter in the SA20 League with 1012 runs in 12 matches at a strike rate of 162.70 and an average of 44.00. He is a vital part of MI Cape Town in the league.
MI Cape Town pulled off their maiden title after beating the erstwhile Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the final of the SA 20 League 2024-25 and Rickelton played an instrumental role in his team’s victory. With 336 runs in eight matches at a strike rate of 178.72, he ended up as the fourth-leading run-scorer in the tournament. Back in the 2023-24 season, he was the highest run-getter with 1012 runs in 25 matches at a strike rate of 162.70. Rickelton was also a part of South Africa’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad but didn’t get a chance to appear in any matches.
