IND vs SA 2nd T20I: South Africa's star wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock has revealed that his hunger to represent South Africa is renewed again, but he won't be playing in the longest format. He announced his retirement from the 50-over format post the 2023 World Cup and wasn't part of the 2024 T20 World Cup.
He then made a U-turn in his retirement decision in the 50-over format before the white-ball series against Pakistan and has been in sublime form since then. After making a comeback to the national side, he has scored 353 runs after playing in six ODIs at an average of more than 72, which includes two centuries and as many fifties. In the shortest format, he had 121 runs after playing in six matches, which also includes a brilliant knock of 90 runs against India in Mullanpur on Thursday, and helped the team level the series.
In the post-match press conference, De Kock talked about him losing his hunger to represent South Africa, and that's why he decided to retire in order to get his mojo back.
"I think before my retirement, I was losing my hunger to win games for this team. That time away just brought back my hunger. I was telling the guys, I don't think I've ever felt this way," de Kock told reporters in the post-match press conference.
"Before, when you're young, you're trying to just play to score runs and impress. I feel now that there's a renewed energy where I'm not just playing. I'm playing to win every game with renewed energy," he said.
"Before, it would be hard to wake up and go play for the team again. Especially when you play a series over and over where you've played India multiple times, home and away. Over time, I was getting sick of it. I was looking for a new challenge, and I wasn't getting it," he added.
He also revealed that he will extend his career now for a long time.
"Now coming back, I feel like this is actually what I missed. Everyone knows, you never know what you have until you've lost it. Now coming back, there's a renewed energy where I feel I can play much longer than what I thought previously," he added.
NO TO TESTS
He last represented South Africa in the longest format way back in 2021 against the same opponent, and then he announced his retirement. Irrespective of his newfound hunger, the Proteas have had a dream run in the longest format as they have beaten India in the Test series and have also won the WTC title, but De Kock isn't interested in playing Test cricket anymore.
"You are not the only one who has asked me this, but as of now, it's a straight no," he concluded.
He has represented South Africa in 54 Tests, where he has scored 3300 runs.