Ryan Rickelton the one to watch among 17 South Africans at this year's IPL

Rickelton has been signed by the Mumbai Indians and is likely to form an opening batting combination with India ODI skipper Rohit Sharma at the top of the order.

The 28-year-old Proteas batter has been in sublime form with the willow over the last few months in all three formats of the game.

Rickelton is also already well-known in the Mumbai stable having helped MI Cape Town to their maiden SA20 title last month, contributing 336 runs in just eight innings at a strike-rate of more than 178.

Joining Rickelton at the Mumbai franchise is all-rounder Corbin Bosch, who came in as an injury replacement for fellow paceman Lizaad Williams, while Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants have six South African players between them.

Faf du Plessis, Tristan Stubbs and Donovan Ferreira all form part of the Delhi squad while the trio of David Miller, Aiden Markram and Matthew Breetzke are with the Super Giants.

Heinrich Klaasen was retained by Sunrisers Hyderabad and will be joined at the franchise by all-rounder Wiaan Mulder, who is also in his rookie IPL campaign.

Fast bowling pair Kagiso Rabada and Gerald Coetzee will both turn out for Gujarat Titans, with Proteas fans crossing fingers that neither pick up an injury ahead of the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The other South Africans in the competition are Quinton de Kock and Anrich Nortje - who will both play for Kolkata Knight Riders, Kwena Maphaka, Rajasthan Royals, Lungi Ngidi, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Marco Jansen, who is now with the Punjab Kings.

The only team in the tournament that won't have a South African in their ranks will be Chennai Super Kings, unless they get an injury replacement.

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