Rickelton has been amongst MI’s standout performers in an otherwise difficult season, scoring two centuries including a stunning 123 not out off 55 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad – the fastest hundred by an MI batter in IPL history.
The Proteas wicketkeeper-batter has been one consistent bright spot in a campaign that has already ended in elimination for Mumbai.
AFRICA PICKS: KKR vs MI – IPL Preview
Kolkata sit eighth with 11 points from 12 matches and must win both remaining games to have any realistic chance of reaching the playoffs. Even then, results elsewhere need to go their way.
MI arrive already eliminated but with the motivation of a five-wicket win over KKR in the reverse fixture, when Rickelton scored 81 off 43 balls alongside Rohit Sharma’s 78 off 38.
Eden Gardens has consistently favoured chasing sides this season. KKR’s Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy give them a clear advantage as the pitch slows under the lights.
For Rickelton, another big performance would be the perfect way to close out a season that has established him as one of the IPL’s most dangerous openers.
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