“My apologies” – MI star comes up with heartwarming gesture for fan after ball hits her face during SA20 2026 match [Watch]

Mumbai Indians and MI Cape Town keeper-batter Ryan Rickelton came up with a heartwarming gesture for a female fan, who was struck by a ball during the SA20 2026 match against Joburg Super Kings in Johannesburg on Saturday, January 10. The left-handed batter not only apologized but also gifted her a jersey, and a video of the same surfaced on social media.

Rickelton, who was on fire during the game against Joburg Super Kings, played a powerful pick-up shot off the bowling of Nande Burger towards the leg side. The ball flew way over the boundary and struck the fan, who was seen holding her face in pain, with people trying to comfort her.

In the aftermath of the scary incident, Rickelton gifted her a jersey and sent a video message saying:

“Hi Lyndee. Ryan here. I just want to say so sorry for what happened to you last night. I’m really sad to hear that. I did see the video as well. But yeah, my thoughts are with you. I hope that your cheek, I hear that’s a fracture, it can recover quite quickly and hopefully, the pain can subside as quickly as possible as well. My apologies. Never nice when it happens. I just want to wish you all the best in recovery and as a bit of a token to say sorry, I’d love to sign this jersey for you. Just to reach out from my perspective and from the team’s side as well. Again, just to say sorry and we wish you all the best in your recovery.”

In response, the fan cheekily stated that the ball managed to make a hole in her glasses, elaborating:

“Can confirm you hit a ball very very hard. You’ve managed to make a hole in my glasses. Thank you. That saved my eye. So anyway, thanks for the message, thanks for the jersey. Love watching you. See you at the next game, probably at the pink game. I’m assuming you’ll be playing there, the way you hit the ball.”

Rickelton made a mark on the SA20 match, hitting an unbeaten 113 off 60 deliveries as MI Cape Town mustered 234/3 in 20 overs. Later, they restricted Joburg Super Kings to 198, winning by 36 runs.

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MI Cape Town in danger of being eliminated from group stage of SA20 2026

Meanwhile, the win over Super Kings was also only MI Cape Town’s second of SA20 2026. They are currently sixth in the points table with two victories in seven games, and will next face the Pretoria Capitals on Monday at Centurion. They have two matches left to be played after that.

MI Cape Town won their maiden SA20 title last year, defeating SunRisers Eastern Cape in the final by 76 runs.