Who will open the innings for Mumbai Indians (MI) along with Rohit Sharma in the IPL 2026 season? With the presence of both Ryan Rickelton and Quinton de Kock, cricket experts are facing difficulties in choosing one of them.
During the ESPNCricinfo show, former international cricketers Faf du Plessis and Abhinav Mukund expressed contrasting opinions on MI’s opening pair. Both kept Rohit Sharma in the starting position but argued with Ryan Rickelton and Quinton de Kock.
Faf du Plessis votes for Ryan Rickelton for IPL 2026 season
With an eye on the future, former South African captain Faf du Plessis preferred Rickelton as Sharma’s opening partner. The 29-year-old keeper-batsman was the opener for MI in the last IPL season and did a good job. In 14 IPL 2025 matches, the batsman scored 388 runs at an average of 29.84, helping the 5-time IPL winners enter the play-offs after a poor start.
But, in the recently concluded 2026 T20 World Cup, Ryan Rickelton was the No. 3 batsman for South Africa. But Plessis believes that Mumbai should retain him as the opener like last season. The former cricketer also said that Mumbai Indians bought Quinton de Kock because he was available at base value.
“You’ve backed Ryan Rickelton, you’ve signed him, he’s there, you’ve retained him. You got lucky with Quinny, right? It was never part of their plans. They just said ‘Oh, it’s for his base price, we’ll take Quinny.’ 40s, and then he slowly started contributing a bit more,” said Faf du Plessis.
Why did he choose to stick with Ryan Rickelton instead of Quinton de Kock?
He did not completely disqualify a proven opening batsman like Quinton de Kock, who had performed brilliantly in the past and appeared as the leading run-scorer in the SA20 as well. But, with team building a part of the process leading to the future, Plessis is sticking to the youth option.
“Quinton, in terms of pedigree, yes, more pedigree. But in terms of play, I think they are of very similar stature at the moment. They have both performed well. I would absolutely, based on the process, start with Rickelton, who has had a fantastic year domestically, in the SA20, is the leading run-scorer once again. Incredible year, so I would stick with him, or start with him, and see how his form is and give him a run Will give,” he said. Added further.
In contrast, Abhinav Mukund chose Quinton de Kock
On the other hand, former Indian batsman Abhinav Mukund favored turning back the clock along with Quinton de Kock, who was a key part of MI’s IPL 2020-winning set-up, scoring 503 runs in 16 matches.
“I’m sorry, Faf, but I disagree with giving a chance to a player who is in the IPL, even purely in relation to Mumbai Indians, because it’s a three-year cycle. At the end of the cycle, you’re not thinking about retaining either. Who gives you the best returns this year, and I think they’ve tried to get back to the side of 2020 where they won,” Mukund insisted.
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