Ryan Rickelton vs Quinton de Kock: Ex-CSK stars clash over MI’s unsolved riddle ahead of IPL 2026

Who will open the innings for the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the IPL 2026 season, along with Rohit Sharma? In the presence of both Ryan Rickelton and Quinton de Kock, cricket experts are facing difficulties choosing one of them.

During an ESPNCricinfo show, former international cricketers Faf du Plessis and Abhinav Mukund expressed contrasting opinions on the MI opening pair. Both kept Rohit Sharma in an opening position but debated Ryan Rickelton and Quinton de Kock.

Faf du Plessis voted for Ryan Rickelton for the IPL 2026 season

Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis preferred Rickelton as the opening partner of Sharma, keeping an eye on the future. The 29-year-old keeper-batter was the opener for MI in the previous IPL season, and he did a decent job. In 14 IPL 2025 matches, the batter scored 388 runs at an average of 29.84 to help the 5-time IPL winners enter the play-off after an underwhelming start.

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But, in the recently concluded 2026 T20 World Cup, Ryan Rickelton was the Number 3 batter for South Africa. But Plessis felt that Mumbai should keep him as the opener, like the previous season. The former cricketer also opined that the Mumbai Indians grabbed Quinton de Kock because he was available at the base value.

“You have backed Ryan Rickelton, you have signed him, he's there, you retained him. You got lucky with Quinny, right? It was never part of their plans. They just went 'Oh, it's for his base price, we'll take Quinny'. The future of the Mumbai Indians is with Ryan Rickelton, isn't it? Because of his age and what he can do. Ryan Rickelton did this for them last year. He started with a lot of 30s and 40s, and then he slowly started to chip in a bit more,” Faf du Plessis said.

Why did he choose to stick with Ryan Rickelton over Quinton de Kock?

He did not completely disqualify a proven opener like Quinton de Kock, who did a brilliant job in the past, and appeared as the leading run-scorer in the SA20 as well. But, a team building which is a part of a process leading towards the future, Plessis sticks with the younger option.

“Quinton, in terms of pedigree, yes, more pedigree. But in terms of playing, I think they are of very similar stature at the moment. They have both done well. I would purely, based on process, start with Rickelton, who has had a great year domestically, SA20, once again, leading run-scorer. Unbelievable year, so I would stick with him, or start with him, and see what his form is like and give him a run,” he further added.

In contrast, Abhinav Mukund picked up Quinton de Kock

On the other side, Abhinav Mukund, a former Indian batter, opined in support of turning back the clock with Quinton de Kock, who was a pivotal part of MI’s IPL 2020 winning set-up, scoring 503 runs in 16 matches.

“I'm sorry, Faf, but I disagree with the whole give the run to the player that exists in the IPL, purely with regards to the Mumbai Indians as well, because it is a three-year cycle. At the end of the cycle, you are not looking at retaining either-or. Who gives you the best returns this year, and I think they have tried to go back to that side of 2020, where they won,” Mukund asserted.

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