Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
It felt as if he had been itching for this opportunity. Veteran South Africa batter Quinton de Kock proved he is worth far more than warming the benches at Mumbai Indians, smashing a 53-ball century against a high-quality Punjab Kings side at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. MI vs PBKS: Updates | Scorecard
De Kock, who was not included in the XI for MI’s first four games despite being in rich form, got his opportunity in the absence of Rohit Sharma. Rohit was ruled out of Thursday’s contest due to a hamstring injury he sustained over the weekend.
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Opening the batting alongside his South African teammate Ryan Rickelton, De Kock made his intentions clear from the very first delivery he faced. The left-hander, known for his elegance and power, smashed Marco Jansen into the stands with a lofted cover drive.
Even after Mumbai Indians lost Rickelton and Suryakumar Yadav in successive deliveries in the third over, slipping to 12 for 2, De Kock ensured they did not fall behind during the powerplay.
De Kock and Naman Dhir, who was promoted to No. 4, stitched together a 122-run partnership off 66 deliveries.
De Kock struck seven sixes and eight boundaries, remaining unbeaten on 112 from 60 deliveries. The South African batter was particularly severe against Yuzvendra Chahal, smashing the leg-spinner for three sixes and putting sustained pressure on the rest of the bowling attack.
Mumbai Indians finished with 195 on the board in their 20 overs, thanks to De Kock’s marathon knock, in which he carried his bat.
STEAL FOR MUMBAI INDIANS?
Mumbai Indians had picked up De Kock in the accelerated round of the IPL 2026 auction for Rs 1 crore. There were no competing bids when his name came up — surprising at first glance, but understandable given he had been out of white-ball cricket for a while.
It has since turned out to be a steal for Mumbai Indians. With a hundred in his first outing, De Kock has sent a strong message to the coaching group and captain Hardik Pandya that he cannot be left on the bench in this kind of form.
When Rohit Sharma returns to action, De Kock could well replace Rickelton, who has had a scratchy and inconsistent start to the season.
De Kock’s decision to reverse his international retirement in late 2025 has already yielded dividends, re-establishing him as a cornerstone of South Africa’s white-ball plans. His return was preceded by a dominant SA20 2026 campaign with Sunrisers Eastern Cape, where he finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer. De Kock amassed 390 runs in 12 matches at an average of 39.00 and a blistering strike rate of 148.85, including a standout unbeaten 79 that helped him secure the Player of the Season award.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
