T20I future unclear for de Kock, Miller stands firm with Proteas

South Africa is holding onto hope that Quinton de Kock might continue his international career in white-ball formats. Despite his retirement from Test cricket in 2021 and the conclusion of his ODI career following last year's World Cup, de Kock has not made any official announcement regarding his T20I retirement. This leaves a glimmer of hope that he may still compete in future tournaments.

Rob Walter, South Africa's national white-ball coach, shared his thoughts on the matter upon his return to South Africa. 

"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 on arrival in South Africa on Thursday. "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 said.

South Africa's next T20Is are scheduled for August in the West Indies. While de Kock is not on the national contract list, making him free to choose whether or not to participate, this does not affect his future selection. He has previously been included in major tournaments without playing in preceding series, as seen during the recent World Cup where he was picked despite not participating in the series against India due to commitments with the Big Bash League.

Walter admitted that he has not discussed de Kock's future plans with him yet, noting, "I've had no conversations with him. It wasn't the right time after the final to have that conversation. So let me leave it at saying your guess is as good as mine."

In contrast, another potential retiree, David Miller, has clarified his intentions. Through an Instagram story, Miller confirmed his ongoing commitment to South Africa’s T20I side, stating, "Contrary to reports, I have not retired from T20 international cricket. I will continue to be available for the Proteas. The best is yet to come."

Miller's announcement hints that he will also continue in ODIs, which is significant given the speculation around de Kock possibly reversing his ODI retirement. With South Africa hosting the 2027 World Cup, de Kock could be considered for the 2024 Champions Trophy, which is pivotal for the team's long-term preparations for the World Cup.