Matthew Breetzke warns world to expect Quinton de Kock masterclass at T20 World Cup

Proteas and Sunrisers Eastern Cape batter Matthew Breetzke has warned the world to brace for a Quinton de Kock show at the upcoming 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Over the past three SA20 seasons, Breetzke has opened the batting alongside De Kock at their former team, Durban’s Super Giants. In the ongoing fourth season, Breetzke and De Kock are once again in the same team. Although the pair are not facing the new ball together, they often find themselves out in the middle at the same time, as Breetzke now bats at No 3.

When Breetzke made his debut for the Proteas T20I side, De Kock was there to show him the ropes as an opening batter in international cricket. Therefore, when Breetzke speaks about De Kock’s form, the cricket world should take note — especially with the T20 World Cup only a few weeks away.

“I think the Quinton you're seeing now, I think the world needs to be ready for him at the World Cup,” Breetzke warned. “He's hungry, and he's enjoying his cricket.”

Breetzke has a valid point. De Kock has four half-centuries in the ongoing SA20, averages 46, and sits second on the list of leading run-scorers. These comments recall the 2023 World Cup, where De Kock smashed four centuries — a tournament he thought would be his last and one in which he felt he finally did himself justice.

If De Kock could go from zero World Cup centuries in two editions to scoring four in a single campaign, his potential impact on the upcoming T20 World Cup is significant.

Since his return to international cricket, he has made a statement with two half-centuries in eight T20I innings, alongside two centuries and two fifties in ODIs.

Despite displacing Ryan Rickelton from the top of the order, De Kock has silenced any questions regarding his place in coach Shukri Conrad's 15-player squad. South Africa are scheduled to play their first match of the showpiece event against Canada at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on 9 February.