After Mumbai Indians (MI) suffered a defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), former India batter Saba Karim singled out Ryan Rickelton’s remarkable century, stressing how crucial the left-hander’s batting was in the middle overs as MI kept losing wickets. Rickelton struck MI’s quickest hundred, reaching three figures off 44 balls, and also produced the franchise’s highest individual score in league cricket with 123 not out from 55 deliveries. His innings featured 10 fours and eight sixes against SRH, and he carried his bat as MI posted 243 for 5. Yet the century still ended up being in vain, with Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head putting on a 129-run opening partnership and Heinrich Klaasen contributing a fifty to keep SRH on top, adding Rickelton to a list of batters this season who have compiled tons without converting them into wins—alongside Quinton de Kock, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sai Sudharsan, KL Rahul and Tilak Varma.
Rickelton has appeared in six of MI’s eight matches so far, missing two games after a dip in form led to Danish Malewar being brought in at the expense of the uncapped opener. Across his six innings, Rickelton has amassed 260 runs at an average of 52.00, striking at better than 181. He already has a century and a fifty in his tally, and despite sitting on MI’s top run-getter numbers, his tournament so far has been marked by a few low scores, including three knocks in single digits—something Karim felt mirrors MI’s broader batting inconsistency as a group.
Speaking on ESPNCricinfo’s “Timeout” show, Karim said it is difficult for an overseas batter to break back into the XI and immediately make an impact. He highlighted Rickelton’s ability to play quickly while also partnering effectively with opener Will Jacks, who made a lively start in the tournament with 46 off 22 balls.
“I think it is not easy, especially for an overseas batter, to come in, do well, again get dropped. I can understand that, but for Ryan Rickelton to come back and score so briskly—he also realised, I am sure there has been a team talk, that we need to get a solid base in the powerplay. And I think both Will Jacks [the other opener] and Ryan Rickelton were able to provide that,” Karim said.
While Rickelton and Jacks managed to accumulate 93 runs in 7.1 overs, the “Travi-Shek” combination in SRH’s response proved more decisive. Karim also compared Rickelton’s approach to that of Priyansh Arya, a rising Punjab Kings (PBKS) talent.
“Ryan Rickelton is quite like Priyansh Arya—both of them are very steady, they don’t step out to pace bowlers in the powerplay; they wait for the ball to come their way. And both of them have got a similar kind of a batswing when they try and hit on the on side. So again, all that was pitched in the slot, angling towards him, he was able to easily manoeuvre those shots towards the on side,” he explained.
Karim added that Rickelton’s skill set extends beyond pace as well. He pointed to an over from Harsh Dubey, the seventh of the innings, which cost 15 runs, and said even when captains consider using spin to force changes, Rickelton and Jacks are able to neutralise the threat.
“But I think he’s equally good against spinners. And I think that over of Harsh Dubey [the seventh, which went for 15 runs], Pat Cummins thought that maybe spinner can do the work. But Ryan Rickelton, and Will Jacks as well, to nullify that over, just goes to show that I think they had their plans laid out and they were able to execute,” Karim added.
Rickelton’s innings was defined by control and timing. He reached his half-century in 23 balls and accelerated to his century in 44 deliveries, continuing without meaningful slowdown. His final 23 runs came off just 11 balls, with contributions from Hardik Pandya and Naman Dhir helping stitch the late momentum together.
“Ryan Rickelton especially for him to continue, especially in the middle overs when they had lost SKY [Suryakumar Yadav, in the ninth over] very quickly and then Naman Dhir [22 in 17 balls] also didn’t get off to a good start,” Karim said. “I think Ryan Rickelton’s presence was so important for MI,” he signed off.
How the match unfolded
MI chose to bat first, with Will Jacks striking 46 off 22 balls, including five fours and three sixes, as he and Rickelton combined to build an explosive 93-run stand. Rickelton stayed at the crease throughout, reaching his maiden IPL century and the fastest hundred for MI, while also forming key partnerships with Naman Dhir (22 off 17 balls, three fours) and captain Hardik Pandya (31 off 15 balls, two fours and two sixes). Rickelton ultimately finished unbeaten on 123 off 55 balls, again striking 10 fours and eight sixes, ensuring MI posted 243 for 5.
SRH’s bowling highlights came from Praful Hinge, who took 2 wickets for 54 runs, and Eshan Malinga, who claimed 1 for 29.
In reply, Travis Head quickly regained rhythm, scoring 76 off 30 balls with four boundaries and eight maximums, and he shared a 129-run partnership with Abhishek Sharma. Abhishek contributed 45 off 24 balls, striking four fours and three sixes. Even after MI reduced SRH to 133 for 3 in 9.4 overs—thanks to Allah Ghazanfar (2 for 51) and Hardik Pandya (1 for 39)—SRH completed the chase. Heinrich Klaasen anchored the successful run chase with 65 not out from 30 balls, hitting seven fours and four sixes. Nitish Kumar Reddy (21 off 17 balls, three fours) added stability in a 80-run stand with Klaasen, while Salil Arora provided late impetus by smashing 30 not out off 10 balls, including two fours and three sixes.
SRH wrapped up the chase with six wickets down and eight balls remaining, securing their sixth win in nine matches and holding third place on the points table with 12 points. MI, meanwhile, sit ninth and must win their remaining fixtures if they are to keep their playoff hopes alive.
