Rilee beams with pride after Proteas rollercoaster: 'Never thought I'd be here in a million years'

Rilee Rossouw continued his remarkable comeback to the international arena with a superb century on Thursday, and he acknowledged after South Africa's 104-run T20 World Cup win over Bangladesh that he never thought he'd be given the opportunity to thrive on this stage again.

SCOREBOARD | Proteas beat Bangladesh by 103 runs

Now 33 years old, Rossouw became one of the most high-profile players to opt for a Kolpak deal back in 2017, taking up an offer from Hampshire that left him unavailable for Proteas selection. 

At that stage, Rossouw thought that he would never play for his country again, and he became one of the most destructive players on the T20 circuit in the years that followed as he improved his craft in England, Bangladesh, the Caribbean and Australia. 

In July this year, however, and with Kolpak deals no longer in use, Rossouw played his first international T20 in over six years and started a quite spectacular return to the Proteas set-up. 

He is now one of two South Africans - the other is David Miller - to have carded two T20I centuries, and his knock of 109 (56) on Thursday followed the 100* (48) he blasted against India in Indore last month in his previous innings. 

Addressing media after the Proteas' opening win of the 2022 tournament, Rossouw acknowledged the dream patch he is currently experiencing was not something he thought he would ever experience.

"When you give up your right to play for your country, you expect that's going to be your last chance," said Rossouw. 

"Every moment you play for your country, you must cherish. It's a super proud moment, not just for me but for my family back home. It's been a great journey and a long journey, but it's not finished yet and hopefully we can take it one game at a