Late entry, instant impact: De Kock impresses on MI return

Quinton de Kock has often seemed to harbour second thoughts about his cricket. He announced his retirement from international cricket in 2024, only to proclaim his comeback a year later. Similarly, he withdrew from the IPL 2026 auction before re-entering just days ahead of the registration deadline.

There was little sign of any such indecision from him at the Wankhede on Thursday night. An unbeaten hundred on his return for the Mumbai Indians had class written all over it.

A late entrant into the MI XII, courtesy Rohit Sharma's injury, de Kock displayed a strong resolve to bring up his third IPL century – his first for the Mumbai Indians. His unbeaten 112 off 60 deliveries, at a strike rate of 186.86, propelled MI to a formidable 195 for six, a total that had seemed a distant mirage at 12 for 2 in the third over.

De Kock, a veteran of 13 IPL seasons and seventh on the list of leading overseas run-scorers, showed he might have deserved a place from the very first game. He was summoned for Mumbai Indians' fifth match of the season.

On Thursday night, he batted as if he had never been away – the first two deliveries he faced were a six and a four off Marco Jansen.

In the past, he was known to get stuck in the middle overs, owing to a perceived inability to slog spinners. That does no longer seem a limitation as seen in his treatment of Yuzvendra Chahal – 29 off 13 balls at a strike rate of 223.1, including a four and three sixes. So severe was his onslaught that Chahal (none for 45 in three overs) was denied his final over.

Even Shashank Singh, who had previously contained marauders like Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, failed to stop the left-handed South African. De Kock dispatched him into the stands on both sides of the wicket.

"Some of the shots he played were pretty unbelievable. The one he hit over covers off the first ball shows how good a player he is," said Naman Dhir, who added 122 runs off 68 deliveries with de Kock.

In his 13 IPL seasons, de Kock has represented six franchises. He had his best IPL seasons with the Mumbai Indians, playing a key role in their title-winning campaigns in 2019 and 2020. His opening partnership with Rohit Sharma became legendary.

In 37 matches, he and Rohit have accumulated 1,269 runs for the first wicket at an average of 34.2, including 10 half-century partnerships. He is yet to resume that productive association – initially due to the team management's preference for Ryan Rickelton over him. Currently, due to Rohit's injury, their alliance may have to wait.

"We've bid for Quinny in every auction that he has been available in. There is real chemistry between Rohit and Quinny. They were the championship-winning opening pair for us. We think he will be very suited to Wankhede and gives us that option," MI owner Akash Ambani said after buying him in the auction last December.

It was MI that forwarded his name for a late entry into the auction and bought him at the base price of INR 1 crore. As Ambani hoped, de Kock owned the Wankhede on Thursday night. His unbeaten 112 rescued the Mumbai Indians from a batting embarrassment, if not from defeat, against Punjab Kings.

In 116 IPL matches, de Kock has notched 3,421 runs, including three centuries, at an average of 31.68 and a strike rate of 135.27. Some of his IPL knocks have bordered on genius, such as an unbeaten 140 for Lucknow SuperGiants against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2022.

Whether de Kock's inclusion will galvanise the Mumbai Indians, whose season is fast coming off the rails, remains conjecture. But coach Mahela Jayawardene hopes it will have the desired effect.

"There was a reason behind it (bringing him into the XI late), and when the time was right, we brought Quinny in. He waited patiently like a true professional and delivered a brilliant innings. It's great to have that early on-we need everyone firing like that and showing that hunger out there in the middle," Jayawardene said.