IPL 2019 Final More Emotional Than World Cup 2015 Semfinal, Says Quinton de Kock

While most of the cricketers rate their achievements for national team above that for T20 franchises, South Africa star Quinton de Kock is an exception. The wicketkeeper-batsman has rated IPL 2019 final as the most emotional moment in his playing career ahead of the 2015 World Cup final. De Kock was an integral member of Mumbai Indians this season, helping them beat Chennai Super Kings in a tense IPL final.

In this IPL, he constantly gave Mumbai Indians a good start from his end which eventually helped them turn around their fortunes and win a record fourth title. The left-handed batsman slammed 529 runs this season with the help of 4 fifties including a quick 29 in the final. And he feels that winning the thrilling final of the IPL was more emotional than the heartbreaking loss against New Zealand in the semifinal of the last World Cup.

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South Africa are gearing up to take on New Zealand in their crucial World Cup clash on Wednesday. And on the eve of the match, he was was asked by a journalist whether 2015 semi-final at Eden Park against the Black Caps was the most emotional moment in his playing career. However, De Kock rated 2015 World Cup semi-final as the second most emotional moment in his career after IPL 2019 final.

“The second most at the moment. Obviously the IPL final this year was up there. But then, Eden Park obviously…Auckland, it was pretty intense. I experienced it for the first time ever, that vibe that was going through the stadium. It was so noisy. (I was) just trying to concentrate, but it was tough to deal with it,”  replied Quinton De Kock.

With just one win from 5 games, South Africa are in a win-all situation. A loss against New Zealand will end their hopes of making it to the next stage and De Kock is well aware of it.

“Tomorrow is a quarter-final, I guess you could say it. But if we do win it, it’s another big game again… We have to win all the games, not just focus on tomorrow,” De Kock told reporters in Birmingham.

New Zealand, on the other hand, are still unbeaten in the tournament. They have garnered seven points from their opening four games.