Quinton de Kock's T20I Future Remains Uncertain, South Africa Hopeful

South Africa's hopes of retaining Quinton de Kock for white-ball cricket remain alive, as the national white-ball coach, Rob Walter, expressed optimism that the star batter may not have played his last T20I. De Kock, who retired from Tests in 2021 and ODIs at last year's World Cup, was expected to end his T20I career at the recent World Cup in West Indies and USA. However, Walter believes there may be more to come from the enigmatic player.

"Quinny's an enigma. He hasn't officially called time. So we have that little glimmer of hope that sits in the background," Walter said. "Quinny has very high standards for himself and has dreamed about a World Cup win for a very long time. Has had a number of knocks along the way, not least this last final, You would have seen that he was very emotional with it. Whether we see him again, time will tell."

Walter has not yet discussed the matter with de Kock, but South Africa's next T20Is are not until August, and de Kock is not on the national contract list, meaning he is not obligated to be available for those games. However, his availability for future tournaments remains a possibility.

"I've had no conversations with him. It wasn't the right time after the final to have that conversation," Walter said. "So let me leave it at saying your guess is as good as mine."

Meanwhile, David Miller has confirmed his continued availability for South Africa in T20Is, putting an end to speculation about his retirement. Miller's decision is significant, as it suggests he may also continue playing ODIs, which could be crucial for South Africa's preparations for the 2027 home World Cup.

Walter identified the team's improved ability to stay in the game under pressure as the biggest improvement in his time in charge. "We've progressed, no doubt about that. This last World Cup, the team won small moments which in the past, potentially, haven't gone our way. There was huge resilience, we showed a large skill set and we encountered very different conditions from the start in New York to the back end of the competition so it showed great versatility as well. For me, the team is ever-growing. We've made strides, but by no means the finished article."

South Africa's director of cricket, Enoch Nkwe, hailed the team's successive T20 World Cup finals appearances as a "massive mindset shift." "Reaching two finals in a short period of time goes to show the buy-in, not only from the two teams, but also from a system point of view. There's been quite a lot of work that's been done and builds towards this moment. We're heading in the right direction."

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