Quinton de Kock or Ryan Rickelton - who should MI pick as Rohit Sharma's opening partner for IPL 2026?

Mumbai Indians (MI) pulled off a genius act by purchasing South Africa wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock for a base price of INR 1 crore at IPL 2026 auction. The swashbuckling opener wasn’t part of the preliminary auction list. MI asked de Kock to register for the auction at the last moment and then bought him for a steal with no bidding war from other franchises. The five-time champions entered the auction with INR 2.75 crore purse, the lowest among all franchises, but secured their key overseas slot.

It will be a homecoming for de Kock, having played for MI from 2019 to 2021. He won two back-to-back titles for the franchise in 2019 and 2020, amassing over 500 runs in those two seasons.

Ahead of the auction, the Mumbai-based franchise had retained another South African opener, Ryan Rickelton, for INR 1 crore.

In this article, we take a look at which of the two overseas openers is a proper fit for MI in IPL 2026:

Current form

IPL

Ryan Rickelton enjoyed a promising season with MI in IPL 2025. The 29-year-old amassed 388 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 150.97, including three half-centuries. All three of his half-centuries came in winning causes – against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), and Rajasthan Royals (RR).

On the other hand, Quinton de Kock had an underwhelming season with the Knight Riders. The 33-year-old had a poor season, barring his unbeaten 97 off 61 balls against RR. His other seven scores read 4, 1, 1, 15, 23, 2, and 9.

International form

Rickelton has flopped significantly in his last five innings in T20Is, barring 71 against Australia. His other four scores read: 14, 13, 0, and 20.

de Kock is on the same page with scores of 7, 0, 0, and 1, barring his 90 off 46 in the ongoing T20I series against India.

Edge: Ryan Rickelton

Experience

Apart from the IPL, Ryan Rickelton has played in SA20, Major League Cricket, and Mzansi Super League. Overall, the southpaw has amassed 3,553 runs in 134 T20s at a strike rate of 142, hitting one century and 24 fifties. His average was 29.60.

On the other hand, Quinton de Kock has a wealth of experience in eight T20 leagues around the world. In IPL alone, he has amassed 3,309 runs in 115 games at a strike rate of 134.02, including two tons and 24 half-centuries. Overall, in T20s, he has 11,543 runs in 416 matches at a strike rate of 138.04, comprising seven tons and 76 fifties. He averages 30.94 with the bat.

In addition, de Kock has also played more T20Is (99) than Rickelton (18).

Edge: Quinton de Kock

Record at Wankhede and camaraderie with Rohit Sharma

In his debut IPL season, Ryan Rickelton amassed 219 runs in seven matches at a strike rate of 151.03 and an average of 36.50 with the help of two centuries at Wankhede Stadium.

Meanwhile, Quinton de Kock has played 13 matches at the same venue. In these games, he amassed 374 runs at a strike rate of 132.16 and an average of 31.17, including two half-centuries.

Ryan Rickelton shared one 50-plus and three 45-plus partnerships with Rohit Sharma in IPL 2023, including a 63-run stand against Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

On the contrary, Quinton de Kock has shared seven 50-plus and a few 45-plus partnerships with Rohit Sharma during his previous three-year stint with MI.

Edge: Tie

Conclusion:

Ryan Rickelton has proven himself in his maiden IPL season, while Quinton de Kock is a seasoned player in the Indian T20 league.

Verdict:

Tie. MI can pick any of these two Proteas players to open with Rohit Sharma.

Edited by James Kuanal