Quinton de Kock, known as one of the cricket world’s premier wicketkeeper-batters, has made his swansong appearance in the ongoing World Cup 2023 truly memorable. The 30-year-old had earlier announced that this World Cup would mark his retirement from ODI cricket, and he’s living up to his reputation with impressive performances.
De Kock’s recent innings against Bangladesh, where he scored a brilliant 174 from 140 balls, marked his third century in this year’s tournament, showcasing his incredible skill. With 407 runs in five matches at an average of 81.40 and a strike rate of 114.97, he’s currently the leading run-scorer in the World Cup.
Fellow wicketkeeper-batter Heinrich Klaasen, who has also been in remarkable form, acknowledged that convincing de Kock not to retire from ODIs after the World Cup would be a tough task. However, he expressed hope that de Kock would make his farewell from the format memorable.
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“It’s going to be tough to convince him not to retire. He has been phenomenal for us and he has been great for South Africa over the years. It’s sad to see him leave, but hopefully, he will leave on a good note. He has been brilliant for us in the tournament,” Heinrich Klaasen commented in an interview with Star Sports.
Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis commended the Proteas for their performance in the tournament. With four wins in five matches, they currently occupy the second position on the points table in the ODI World Cup 2023. Du Plessis expressed his pride and admiration for the current team’s exceptional form, considering he has played alongside many of them.
“I am extremely proud. You look at these guys, the way they are playing at the moment, having played with them for such a long time, seeing them on top of their game, I have been a huge fan of watching them play,” said Faf du Plessis.
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South Africa is set to face Pakistan on October 27 in Chennai, and a victory in that match would propel Temba Bavuma and his team to the top of the points table, further solidifying their impressive World Cup campaign.
