Quinton de Kock says returning to the Proteas setup has reignited his childhood passion for representing South Africa and given him a fresh sense of purpose alongside a new generation of teammates.
After stepping away from international cricket for a period, the experienced wicketkeeper-batter has made his comeback in the T20 series against Pakistan, and he admits the feeling of donning the green and gold again has been “refreshing.”
“The thing I missed the most is obviously the camaraderie,” De Kock said. “I think I kind of forgot about that niche as a kid that’s grown up to be a Proteas cricketer. After having a bit of a break from the team, that childhood dream kind of came back.”
The 31-year-old added that one of the biggest changes since his last appearance for South Africa is the number of new faces in the squad.
“Now I’m playing with a whole bunch of youngsters, new guys, new coaching staff – so it’s quite refreshing. I’m making some new friends now and trying to find my feet again.”
De Kock’s return comes under the guidance of head coach Shukri Conrad, a relationship he says is built on honesty and simplicity.
“I like playing under him. He’s a very honest coach, straightforward. The way he thinks about the game, I really enjoy. He keeps things simple, which is generally my type of thing.”
Having once been one of the youngest in the side, De Kock now finds himself in the role of senior player and mentor – something he embraces.
“When I started, one of the big guys I stuck close to was Dale Steyn. He taught me a couple of lessons that really helped my career. Now, a couple of the youngsters have been asking me questions about improving their game, and I’m happy to help where I can, kind of like what Dale did for me.”
Despite his relaxed demeanor, De Kock insists his ambitions remain strong.
“I said to Shukri I’d like to play for the Proteas as long as I can. Obviously, I’d like to play in a couple of World Cups in that timeline. I’m still pretty fit, my body feels great, so I’m going to push it for as long as I can.”
His focus, however, remains on consistency and contribution rather than guarantees.
“If selected, I think I can be one of those leading players heading into the next showpiece. But I still need to come here and score runs. Let’s first get that job done, and then see where we can go from there.”
For now, De Kock is simply enjoying being back in the Proteas changeroom – rediscovering his love for the game and helping shape the next generation of South African cricketers.
