Quinton de Kock reverses ODI retirement having not played white-ball cricket for South Africa since last year’s T20 World Cup.
After reversing his decision to retire from ODI cricket, Quinton de Kock was a member of the ODI and T20I teams for the Pakistan trip and a previous one-time T20I in Namibia.
After the 2023 ODI World Cup, De Kock retired from 50-over cricket, and the 2024 T20 World Cup final in Barbados was his final white-ball match for South Africa. Although he never formally retired from Twenty20 Internationals, Rob Walter, his former coach, was uncertain of his long-term goals and he was left out of all South Africa’s squads. He has been involved in T20 leagues all over the world in the interim, including the just finished CPL.
“Quinton’s return to the white-ball space is a major boost for us,” Conrad said. “When we spoke last month about his future, it was clear that he still has a strong ambition to represent his country. Everyone knows the quality he brings to the side, and having him back can only benefit the team.”
At the time of his ODI retirement, de Kock had hinted that he might be convinced to come back, with South Africa’s home World Cup in 2027 on the horizon. “At this point, I don’t foresee it happening. But you never know. Strange things happen in life. It could be a possibility but I don’t think so,” he had said.
De Kock has amassed 6770 runs at an average of 45.74 and a strike rate of 96.64 in his 155 ODI appearances. He has scored 2584 runs at a strike rate of 138.32 in 92 Twenty20 Internationals. The only ICC competition he missed after retiring was the Champions Trophy earlier this year, where South Africa was eliminated in the semi-final. He has participated in three ODI World Cups: 2015, 2019, and 2023.