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Comeback cut short! De Kock falls cheaply in the first match after reversing ODI retirement

Poulomi Chakraborty

Quinton de Kock's disappointing arrival (Source: @FoxCricket/x.com)Quinton de Kock's disappointing arrival (Source: @FoxCricket/x.com)

Cricket has always seen its share of unusual twists, and few are as intriguing as stars reversing their retirements. Following the path, South Africa’s legendary wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock reversed his ODI retirement and came back to the place where he truly belongs.

After coming back to the game, the cricket world eagerly waited for his triumphant return. Yet, his first outing after reversing retirement took an unexpected turn, as a surprisingly cheap dismissal became the talk of the match.

Early exit dampens De Kock’s return

After the ODI World Cup 2023, the cricket world lost a gem as Quinton de Kock bid a farewell to the format. Later on, playing his last T20I game in the T20 World Cup final in 2024, he was away from the Proteas’ white-ball squad. But in a stunning twist, de Kock reversed his retirement, reigniting fans’ hopes for some fireworks from the South African stalwart.

Ahead of the white-ball series against Pakistan, South Africa faces Namibia in an off-T20I match. Fans witnessed de Kock’s re-arrival, but his comeback proved disappointing, as he departed without leaving a mark.

While opening the innings with Lhuan-dre Pretorius, South Africa stumbled early on. Facing the last delivery of the first over, bowled by Gerhard Erasmus, Quinton de Kock attempted to heave a short ball towards backward square leg. But Trumpelmann was perfectly positioned and took a simple catch, sending the Proteas star back for just 1 run off 4 balls.

His quick dismissal added early pressure on the side as Reeza Hendricks and Rubin Hermann also walked away early on. With Pretorius and Jason Smith on the field, South Africa is eyeing a major turnaround in the ongoing clash.

Key questions loom before the Pakistan series

Over the years, Quinton de Kock has been a pillar of strength in South Africa’s batting lineup. His absence was a void in the Protea squad as the entire world was looking forward to his comeback, anticipating a triumphant return. But it turned out to be a different way.

Following the ongoing clash, South Africa is scheduled to play a white-ball series against Pakistan, and de Kock has been named in the squad. Ahead of that, his failure on the big stage is grabbing attention.

As the South African legend is known for his excellence, this unfortunate outing can be just one hiccup. As the T20I World Cup is coming up next year and the ODI World Cup will be played in 2027, de Kock’s role will be crucial for their redemption.