Stage is set for the ODI series between India and South Africa, which is scheduled to start from November 30 at the JSCA stadium in Ranchi. South Africa will head into the series with the winning momentum, having recently swept Test series against India. Meanwhile, South Africa's batting coach Ashwell Prince compared wicketkeeper-batter Quinton De Kock with India's batting superstars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Prince believes that de Kock carries the same psychological weight for South Africa that superstar veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli bring to the Indian squad.
Ashwell Prince draws parallel between Quinton De Kock and Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Prince elaborated on this conviction, emphasizing how de Kock's impact mirrors the type of assurance and stability India receives from its two senior batters. With India heading into the series following a difficult Test defeat and South Africa arriving with a cohesive and in-form batting group, Prince underlined that de Kock’s significant presence grants his team both a psychological and tactical advantage
“He’s massive. Just like Rohit and Virat strengthen India, Quinny has a similar effect for us. His experience and the quality he showed in Pakistan boosts the dressing room. We’ve got quite a few young left-handers and young players. For them to sit with him, talk to him, and bat with him out in the middle does a lot for their growth. He’s a big influence for us,” Prince said at the pre-match press conference.
Quinton De Kock in hot form
De Kock will enter the series on a high, having excelled in South Africa’s recent ODIs against Pakistan, where he accumulated 239 runs across three matches. His performance was highlighted by an unbeaten 123, complemented by composed knocks of 53 and 63. This exceptional form provides South Africa with immense reassurance at the top of the order, further strengthening a batting lineup that is already firing effectively.