South Africa white-ball coach Rob Walter shares massive update on Quinton de Kock's T20I future

Quinton de Kock one of South Africa's modern legends was part of the ICC T20 World Cup final against India. Unfortunately, his team lost to India in the final after coming so close to winning it. 

De Kock scored 31 off 39 balls and tried holding one end up. He was adding crucial partnerships with the rest of the batters but was dismissed to a plan in the 13th over. Heinrich Klaasen threatened India with a 52 off 27 balls. 

However, it was Hardik Pandya who turned the match in India's favor once again as he dismissed Klaasesn in the 17th over. David Miller's wicket in the final over of the match ensured that India won the match in the end. 

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Quinton de Kock Is An Enigma: Rob Walter

Meanwhile, Quinton de Kock had already retired from Test cricket in 2021. He retired from ODI cricket after the last ODI World Cup in India. Now there are reports that he might have already played his last T20I as well.  However, South African white-ball coach Rob Walter hopes that De Kock gives his T20I retirement a second thought.

"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 next play against West Indies in a T20I series in August. However, Quinton de Kock is not expected to play in that series as he is not on the contract list. Rob Walter has though not counted out the opportunity of De Kock playing in this format in the future. 

"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.

Meanwhile, David Miller has quashed reports of his retirement from T20I cricket anytime soon. "Contrary to reports, I have not retired from T20 international cricket. I will continue to be available for the Proteas. The best is yet to come" he wrote in an Instagram story. 

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is the next big ICC event that South Africa are setting their sights on. The ODI tournament will be played in Pakistan next year. South Africa who were unbeaten till the final of the T20 World Cup will believe that they can win that title. South Africa's only ICC title remains the ICC Champions Trophy of 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.

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