The future of Quinton de Kock in white-ball international cricket remains uncertain, as South Africa hopes he will continue to pursue his dream of winning a World Cup. Despite ending his Test career in 2021 and his ODI career after last year's World Cup, de Kock has not officially announced his T20I retirement. National white-ball coach Rob Walter expressed optimism about de Kock's potential continued involvement.
Walter mentioned that although de Kock has high standards and has long aspired to win a World Cup, recent setbacks, including an emotional final, have taken a toll. Walter admitted he has not yet discussed the matter with de Kock and will not need to for a while. South Africa's next T20Is are scheduled for August in the West Indies, but de Kock, not being on the national contract list, is not obliged to be available for these or other international matches. This will not affect his future selection prospects.
Walter explained that de Kock's availability for major tournaments is not strictly tied to national contracts, as evidenced by his selection for the recent World Cup without participating in the preceding series against India. This approach means de Kock could still be considered for the 2026 T20 World Cup if he remains active in league cricket.
Regarding the future of David Miller, Walter expressed relief as Miller confirmed his availability for South Africa in an Instagram story, dispelling retirement rumours. Miller emphasised his commitment to T20 international cricket and hinted at continuing his ODI career, which is crucial for South Africa's plans for the 2027 home World Cup. If de Kock reconsiders his ODI retirement, he might also be part of the Champions Trophy squad, an essential step in preparing for the next ODI World Cup.
Walter emphasised the significance of the Champions Trophy, describing it as a highly competitive tournament. He expressed confidence in South Africa's growth as a team, especially after the last World Cup, and highlighted their improved ability to handle pressure and win crucial moments in matches. Walter noted the team's resilience, versatility, and skill set, acknowledging that while progress has been made, there is still room for improvement.
South Africa's recent success in reaching consecutive T20 World Cup finals, both in men's and women's cricket, was praised by director of cricket Enoch Nkwe, who called it a "massive mindset shift." Nkwe emphasised the collective effort and system improvements that contributed to these achievements, setting the stage for future successes in the upcoming 2025 Women's Cricket World Cup and the 2027 Men's Cricket World Cup.
Currently, the South African women's team is in India, preparing for the October World Cup with a three-match T20I series. Meanwhile, the men's team is on a break until early August when their World Test Championship fixtures resume. Several players from the T20 World Cup squad are participating in the Major League Cricket (MLC) or the Lanka Premier League, with only Keshav Maharaj, Ottneil Baartman, and Lungi Ngidi returning home.