Will Quinton De Kock Continue To Play For The Proteas? Here's What Coach Rob Walter Opines

The team management is uncertain whether Quinton de Kock will ever return to the South African fold or not. The wicketkeeper batsman hasn't represented the Proteas since the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup and is yet to officially retire from international cricket. He doesn't have a national contract anymore despite this, he was not a part of the South African team in T20 tours, with no clarity. In the meantime, he has been competing in the MLC and CPL.

Uncertainty Looms Over Quinton De Kock's Future

Rob Walter, the white-ball coach of the team, anticipated ambiguity over de Kock's future with the team whether he will participating in further tournaments or not.

"I don't know, to be dead honest. For the next little while, there will be no conversations between myself and Quinny as to whether he wants to play for South Africa again," 

"I've left the door open for him to approach me if and when he wants to do that. That might never happen."

'We Have To Allow Him To Have His Space' Says Rob Walter

Quinton De Kock announced his retirement from Test cricket in 2021 and stepped away from ODIs after the 2023 World Cup. He was a crucial contributor in the latter tournament and was South Africa's leading run-scorer in their march to the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup. It is in this respect that Walter said the discussions with de Kock won't imply his confirmation to return to international play, but South Africa will allow him to take part in available leagues and gives respect to his space.

"There might be a conversation and also that conversation does initially mean it will lead to him being selected," he said. “We have to just allow him to have his space, to play league cricket and to do what he needs to do. What will become more and more important is performance. He's not exactly old [de Kock is 31] so from here on in, it's a performance-based conversation,” said Walter.

Quinton De Kock's Career

De Kock made his T20I debut against New Zealand in 2012. He is known to be one of finest wicket-keeper batter. He is one out of only three South African players to surpass 10,000 runs in T20 cricket.

In 92 T20I matches, Quinton has scored 2,584 runs which includes 16 half centuries and a century. In ODI, he has amassed 6,770 runs with an average of 45.74 in 155 matches, he has 21 centuries and 30 fifties.

He has played 54 Test matches, where he has scored 3,300 runs at an average of 38.82 this consists of 6 centuries and 22 half centuries.