IND vs SA: Post India’s victory, South Africa’s Quinton De Kock announces retirement from Test cricket

India had posted a historic victory at the Centurion fortress, but what surprised all was South Africa’s wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock announcing his retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect soon after. 

The announcement came hours after India beat South Africa by 113 runs in the first Test of the three-match series on Thursday. 

A statement was released by Cricket South Africa (CSA) in De Kock conveyed his decision to retire from Tests. “This is not a decision that I have come to very easily. I have taken a lot of time to think about what my future looks like and what needs to take priority in my life now that Sasha and I are about to welcome our first child into this world and look to grow our family beyond that. My family is everything to me and I want to have the time and space to be able to be with them during this new and exciting chapter of our lives,” De Kock stated.

“I love Test cricket and I love representing my country and all that it comes with. I’ve enjoyed the ups and the downs, the celebrations and even the disappointments, but now I’ve found something that I love even more.

“In life, you can buy almost everything except for time, and right now, it’s time to do right by the people that mean the most to me.

BREAKING: #Proteas wicket-keeper batsman, Quinton de Kock has announced his retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect, citing his intentions to spend more time with his growing family.

Full statement: https://t.co/Tssys5FJMI pic.twitter.com/kVO8d1e0Ex

— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) December 30, 2021

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been a part of my Test cricket journey from the very beginning. To my coaches, teammates, the various management teams and my family and friends – I couldn’t have shown up as I did without your support.

“This is not the end of my career as a Protea, I’m fully committed to white-ball cricket and representing my country to the best of my ability for the foreseeable future.

“All the best to my teammates for the remainder of this Test series against India.

“See you in the ODIs and T20s.

“Quinny.”