‘Won’t deny it helped my decision, there is a lot of money’ - Quinton de Kock on giving up ODIs to play lucrative T20 leagues

South Africa wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock opened up on his ODI retirement decision at the age of 30 for lucrative T20 offers around the world. Notably, de Kock will retire following the conclusion of the 2023 ODI World Cup in India but will continue playing T20Is until the 2024 T20 World Cup.

The keeper-batter made himself available for the Big Bash League (BBL) and will ply his trade for Melbourne Renegades in the forthcoming edition of the league. This essentially means that de Kock will be unavailable for the multi-format series against team India from December 10 to 21 which clashes with the BBL.

Following his retirement, de Kock opened up on his decision to take up challenges in the T20 leagues around the world with a rather straightforward remark.

"I am not going to sit here and deny that it doesn't. It helps with my decision. I've been around for 10 or 11 years and I've tried to keep my loyalty to the team, which I think I've done really well. I think I have represented the Proteas badge very well over my career,” de Kock was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

“T20 events - I am not going to deny that there is a lot of money and coming to the end of your career, guys want to get their final top-up before their career finishes. Any normal person would do it anyway. If I was really not that loyal, I would have done it five years ago when it really took off. Now I am older and with me coming to the down slope of my career, its time,” he added.

The 30-year-old left-hander has featured in 144 ODIs, scoring 6149 runs at an average of 44.88 with the help of 30 fifties and 17 tons. The keeper-batter last walked out to bat in a home ODI match against Australia in the fifth game of the series on September 17 and scored 27 before heading back to the pavilion.  

de Kock will make his first appearance in the BBL after he was selected by the Renegades in the first round of the BBL Overseas Draft. The Renegades will begin their campaign on December 8, against the Sydney Sixers, at the Sydney Cricket Ground.