Rilee Rossouw starred with the bat in South Africa’s consolation 49-run victory over India in the third T20I at Indore on Tuesday (October 4).
Batting at No. 4, the southpaw slammed 100 not out off 48 balls, propelling the Proteas to a massive 227/3 in 20 overs.
For his knock, studded with 7 fours and 8 sixes, Rossouw rightfully earned the Player-of-the-Match award.
Speaking after the game, Rossouw said he backed himself to score runs after successive ducks in the first two T20Is.
"As a professional sportsman you are going to have bad times. It is just about backing yourself having the confidence in your ability no matter what type of form you are in. Had a chat with our assistant coach. Confidence plays a big part in scoring runs," Rossouw said at the post-match press conference.
"I really believe in my ability, I have shown it through out the world. It is never a confidence issue for me, it is just form," he added.
Having made his international debut back in 2014, Rossouw has been in and out of the South African side, featuring only in 36 ODIs and 21 T20s. While the left-hander has made a name for himself in franchise cricket across the world, his last IPL appearance was in 2015.
However, IPL auction was the last thing on his mind while slamming the century in the third T20I.
"The auction is not in my control. It was not even on my mind. I was just trying to get one run tonight first. It panned out pretty well for me," he said.
Opening the innings, Quinton de Kock also played a brilliant knock of 43-ball 68 in the third T20I and Rossouw had special praise reserved for the wicketkeeper batter.
"The one shot that he swept across and hit it for six...it felt like tonight it was going to be something special. Great to see him in such fine form right before the T20 world cup."
Talking about the learnings from the three T20s in India, Rossouw said: "In the first game, we were kind of shell shocked about how India really swung the ball. We went back to the drawing the board and thought about how we are going to approach the next two games.
"In the second game we learnt more and tonight we were able put up a performance together with both bat and ball." He also said the team has a blueprint ready on how to play in drastically different conditions in the World Cup in Australia but did not reveal much on the subject.”
(With PTI inputs)
