Champions Trophy: Ryan Rickelton Reflects On Maiden Ton And Match-Winning Performance Against Afghanistan

February 22, 2025: Ryan Rickelton’s maiden century in the ICC Champions Trophy was a standout moment in South Africa’s victory over Afghanistan at the National Stadium on Friday. The 28-year-old wicketkeeper-batter’s impressive knock of 103 runs from 106 balls, which included seven fours and a six, played a crucial role in setting up South Africa’s total of 316 runs. His efforts earned him the ‘Player of the Match’ award, and he became the first South African to score a century on his Champions Trophy debut.

In the post-match presentation, Rickelton shared his thoughts on his remarkable achievement. “I was a bit nervous coming into today, especially since it was my first ICC event. But I’m happy to contribute to the team’s win,” Rickelton said. “We expected the surface to be a bit tricky, but it played well. The bounce was inconsistent, but we worked our way through it and managed to post a competitive total.”

Despite his impressive performance with the bat, Rickelton expressed disappointment in the manner of his dismissal. “It’s always disappointing to get out, especially in that way. I was looking to be more aggressive after reaching my milestone, but the guys who came in after me really made up for it, picking up some crucial boundaries.”

Rickelton’s achievement was historic in more ways than one. He became the first Proteas player to score a century on his ICC Champions Trophy debut and joined the ranks of cricket legends such as Herschelle Gibbs, Hashim Amla, Graeme Smith, and Jacques Kallis in having centuries in the prestigious tournament. He also became the second South African after Gary Kirsten to score a century on his ICC tournament debut, with Kirsten famously scoring 188 against UAE during the 1996 World Cup.

Rickelton’s outstanding form didn’t start with the Champions Trophy; earlier in 2025, he made waves with a magnificent 259-run innings against Pakistan in Tests. Additionally, he was a key player for MI Cape Town during their title-winning run in the SA20 season three, accumulating 336 runs in eight innings at an average of 48.00 and a strike rate of 178.72, cementing his place as one of the top performers in South African cricket.

Rickelton’s incredible consistency across formats has made him one of the most exciting young talents in international cricket, and his stellar performance in the Champions Trophy only enhances his growing reputation as a match-winner for South Africa.