KL Rahul expressed his disappointment with Quinton de Kock’s prolonged absence from Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) starting XI in IPL 2023, calling it “very unfortunate.” De Kock missed the first two games of the season due to international commitments, during which Kyle Mayers filled in at the top of the order and scored 168 runs in five innings with two half-centuries and a strike rate of 168.00.
LSG has opted to use Mayers, Nicholas Pooran, Marcus Stoinis, and one fast bowler as their four overseas players this season, and despite De Kock’s success in the previous season, they have been unwilling to change their combination to accommodate him.
Rahul, LSG’s captain, acknowledged that it was unfortunate for De Kock to sit out, but emphasized that only four foreign players can play per XI. He praised Mayers’ performance and acknowledged that it was tough to see De Kock on the sidelines, whom he had enjoyed playing with in the past.
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De Kock had opened the batting with Rahul throughout the 2022 season, scoring 508 runs at an average of 36.28 and a strike rate of 148.97, helping LSG reach the playoffs. However, he has found himself out of the team this year despite being retained on a contract worth INR 6.75 crore.
De Kock himself said that although it was unusual for him to sit out for so long, he was enjoying the team’s success and had learned a lot by watching the games from the sidelines.
About Quinton De Kock
Quinton de Kock is a South African wicket-keeper batsman, known for his aggressive and attacking style of play. Born on December 17, 1992, in Johannesburg, he started playing cricket at a young age and made his international debut for South Africa in 2012.
Since then, de Kock has become one of the most sought-after players in the world, playing in various domestic leagues and international cricket tournaments. He has been an integral part of the South African cricket team, with his explosive batting and reliable glove work behind the stumps.
De Kock’s cricket career began at an early age, and he made his first-class debut for Gauteng in 2010. He quickly established himself as a top-order batsman, and his performances caught the attention of the national selectors.
In December 2012, de Kock made his international debut for South Africa in a T20I match against New Zealand. He made an immediate impact, scoring 28 off 18 balls, and was named Man of the Match. He then made his ODI debut against the same opposition and scored a century in just his third game, becoming the youngest South African to score an ODI hundred.
Read More: Lucknow Super Giants won thanks to Nicholas Pooran’s Fastest Half Century
De Kock’s performances continued to impress, and he soon became a regular member of the South African side. He has played in all three formats of the game and has been a prolific run-scorer across all formats.
In IPL 2023, de Kock was retained by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for INR 6.75 crore. He had a successful season in IPL 2022, where he scored 508 runs in 15 matches at an average of 36.28 and a strike rate of 148.97. He was instrumental in LSG’s journey to the playoffs, where they finished in the top four.
However, de Kock has been unable to make it to LSG’s starting XI in IPL 2023 due to international commitments and Kyle Mayers’ impressive performances in his absence. While de Kock is undoubtedly disappointed to miss out, he has taken a positive approach, saying that he is learning a lot by watching the games from the sidelines and is enjoying the team’s success.
In addition to his exploits in international cricket and the IPL, de Kock has also played in various T20 leagues around the world, including the Big Bash League, the Caribbean Premier League, and the Pakistan Super League. He has been a sought-after player in these leagues, and his aggressive batting style has made him a fan favorite.
Overall, Quinton de Kock is an exciting player to watch, and his attacking brand of cricket has won him many fans around the world. He has proven himself to be a reliable batsman and an excellent wicketkeeper, and he undoubtedly has many more years of success ahead of him.
De Kock Batting & Fielding Stats
| YEAR | MAT | NO | RUNS | HS | AVG | BF | SR | 100 | 50 | 4S | 6S | CT | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | 92 | 6 | 2764 | 140* | 32.14 | 2064 | 133.91 | 2 | 19 | 277 | 106 | 62 | 14 |
| 2022 | 15 | 1 | 508 | 140* | 36.29 | 341 | 148.97 | 1 | 3 | 47 | 23 | 12 | 1 |
| 2021 | 11 | 1 | 297 | 70* | 29.70 | 256 | 116.01 | 0 | 2 | 29 | 7 | 4 | 2 |
| 2020 | 16 | 2 | 503 | 78* | 35.92 | 358 | 140.50 | 0 | 4 | 46 | 22 | 18 | 4 |
| 2019 | 16 | 1 | 529 | 81 | 35.26 | 398 | 132.91 | 0 | 4 | 45 | 25 | 17 | 2 |
| 2018 | 8 | 0 | 201 | 53 | 25.12 | 162 | 124.07 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 8 | 7 | 3 |
| 2016 | 13 | 1 | 445 | 108 | 37.08 | 327 | 136.08 | 1 | 3 | 52 | 13 | 2 | 2 |
| 2015 | 3 | 0 | 122 | 69 | 40.66 | 77 | 158.44 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | 7 | 0 | 153 | 48 | 21.85 | 130 | 117.69 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 2013 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 2.00 | 15 | 40.00 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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