South Africa wicketkeeper-batter Ryan Rickelton believes that young star Dewald Brevis will be among the most sought-after names in the upcoming SA20 auction. Season 4 of the tournament begins on December 26, with all six franchises set to finalise their squads today, September 9, from a pool of more than 500 players.
“Dewald Brevis, without a doubt, is going to attract major interest. I also expect Aiden Markram to be right up there, but I think Brevis will be the headline contender,” Rickelton said in a statement shared by the SA20 organisers on Monday, September 8.
Rickelton, the all-time leading run-scorer in SA20 with 1,012 runs for MI Cape Town, expressed his excitement about the auction and how his own franchise would shape up.
“I think it will be exciting to see the players in the auction, but I’m especially eager to find out how the rest of our team will be assembled. It’s a great opportunity for guys to earn and perhaps move to a new side, but from my perspective, I’mmost looking forward to seeing the shape of our final squad,” he said.
The left-hander, who struck 530 runs in Season 2 and followed it with 336 runs in Season 3, stressed the importance of consistency and adaptability in the league.
“I think my tempo is well-suited to SA20’s demands, and I’malways trying to evolve with the tournament’s trends… Having those gears is crucial for success,” Rickeltonexplained.
Rickelton also highlighted his enthusiasm about playing alongside West Indies star Nicholas Pooran, who recently joined MI Cape Town, while reflecting on his favourite venues and the importance of team bonding.
“I’m especially looking forward to playing alongside Nicholas Pooran at MI Cape Town; he’s a formidable T20 player and it’ll be great to learn from him. I always enjoy playing against Joburg Super Kings at the Wanderers. Not only is it my home ground, but it’s always a fantastic contest, whether it’s a packed Wanderers or a packed Newlands. Team chemistry is hugely important. It’s something we lacked in our first two years, where we finished at the bottom twice,” Rickelton said.
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