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Quinton de Kock, a stalwart of South African cricket, featured in the ICC T20 World Cup final against India. Despite his efforts, South Africa narrowly lost the final.
De Kock played a crucial innings, scoring 31 runs off 39 balls while anchoring partnerships with his teammates. However, he was dismissed in the 13th over due to a strategic plan. Heinrich Klaasen’s aggressive 52 off 27 balls kept South Africa’s hopes alive, but Hardik Pandya’s pivotal wicket of Klaasen in the 17th over swung the momentum in India’s favor. The dismissal of David Miller in the final over sealed India’s victory.
Quinton de Kock Is An Enigma: Rob Walter
Meanwhile, Quinton de Kock had stepped away from Test cricket back in 2021. Following the conclusion of the last ODI World Cup in India, he also retired from ODI cricket. Now, there are indications that he may have played his final T20I match as well. However, South Africa’s white-ball coach Rob Walter remains optimistic that De Kock might reconsider his retirement from T20Is.
“Quinny’s an enigma. He hasn’t officially called time. So we have that little glimmer of hope that sits in the background. Quinny has very high standards for himself and has dreamed about a World Cup win for a very long time. Has had a number of knocks along the way, not least this last final, You would have seen that he was very emotional with it. Whether we see him again, time will tell” Walter said on arrival in South Africa on Thursday.
South Africa’s upcoming T20I series against West Indies in August is on the horizon, but Quinton de Kock’s absence is anticipated since he is not included in the contracted players’ list. Despite this, Rob Walter hasn’t ruled out the possibility of De Kock returning to T20Is at a later stage.
“I’ve had no conversations with him. It wasn’t the right time after the final to have that conversation. So let me leave it at saying your guess is as good as mine” Walter said.
David Miller has dismissed rumors of his imminent retirement from T20I cricket, clarifying on Instagram that he remains committed to playing for the Proteas. He affirmed, “I have not retired from T20 international cricket and will continue to be available. The best is yet to come.”
Looking ahead, South Africa is targeting the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled to take place in Pakistan next year, as their next major ICC event. After their unbeaten run until the T20 World Cup final, they are optimistic about their chances to clinch this title. South Africa’s solitary ICC title remains the ICC Champions Trophy they won in 1998.
“I think people underestimate the toughness of the Champion’s Trophy. For me, that’s as strong a competition as any. Hopefully, we continue to grow as a side and just keep putting ourselves in a position where we can compete. I said last year after the 50-over World Cup, I genuinely believed that the semi-final would be the catalyst to us winning our first world trophy. And nothing’s changed. We probably believe that even stronger now” Rob Walter said at the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy event.
