Rampant Rilee Rossouw transforming himself as South Africa’s go-to man in T20Is

But Rossouw is not among the ones who would give up so lightly. The southpaw rejuvenated himself in Pakistan Super League (PSL) earlier this January, bludgeoning 275 runs from 10 innings at a strike rate of over 167 for Multan Sultans to help them end as runner-ups. Three months later, he silenced his critics in England by finishing as the second-highest run-getter at the Vitality T20 Blast while representing Somerset. They reached the semi-finals there, but a painful defeat from his old county Hampshire ensured Somerset were not going any further.

Rossouw’s performances in Pakistan and England’s franchise competitions won the respect of Cricket South Africa, who, along with their then-coach Russell Domingo, backed him during his first stint between 2014 and 2016, even after watching him fall without scoring five times from his first 10 ODIs. The board recalled Rossouw after six-and-a-half years for their three-match T20I series against England in July-August. Since then, whatever Rossouw is touching has been turning into gold.

Most recently, Rossouw made headlines on Thursday by becoming the first South African to slam a hundred at any T20 World Cup. His aggressive instincts and self-belief were visible throughout his career-best 56-ball 109 against Bangladesh, in which he smacked eight sixes and seven fours. His blitzkrieg was followed by the unbeaten 48-ball 100 which he notched against India in Indore earlier this month. Therefore, with the latest success, he became the second man – only after France’s Gustav McKeon – to hit back-to-back international hundreds in the shortest format. It was not like no one expected the 33-year-old to go that hard against Bangladesh. After all, he tops the chart among the players having a 35+ average and 140+ strike rate in T20Is this year.

With a strike rate of 116.44 between 7 and 15 overs since 2018, van der Dussen’s numbers suggest that he tends to play as an anchor. But having David Miller and Quinton de Kock already among the others, the Proteas required a radical No. 3, who dares to unleash from the word go. Thus, by bringing Rossouw into the mix, who is striking at 198.72 in the middle overs, it is no longer a problem for South Africa.

Though de Kock and Miller have been taking the load for South Africa for a while now, especially in T20Is. The southpaws, their all-time top-scorers in this format, even topped the run-getters chart in South Africa’s T20I series in India last month. However, their strike rates suggest (de Kock’s 134.65 and Miller’s 127.3 in the middle overs since 2018) they prefer taking some time to set in the middle and try to flourish at the end. Hence, by playing Rossouw at No. 3, South Africa have the luxury to score more runs during the middle overs, which, at the same time, allows de Kock and Miller to play with more freedom. It certainly brings additional value to his side.