"Has a similar effect on us as Rohit and Virat" - South Africa coach's massive statement ahead of 1st IND vs SA 2025 ODI 

South Africa's batting coach Ashwell Prince has claimed that Quinton de Kock's return to international cricket has had a major impact on the team. He went on to compare De Kock's presence in the Proteas dressing room as similar to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's impact in the Indian camp.

De Kock had retired from one-day cricket after the 2023 ODI World Cup. However, he reversed his decision in September this year and was subsequently included in the ODI and T20I squads for the Pakistan tour in October and the preceding one-off T20I in Namibia. He will be seen in action when South Africa take on India in the first ODI in Ranchi on Sunday, November 30.

Speaking at a press conference on the eve of the match, Prince shared his views on De Kock's return to the big stage. He commented (via Rediff.com)

"He has a similar effect on us as Rohit and Virat have on India. His quality in Pakistan was clear and his presence is massive, especially for young batters who get to learn from him."

De Kock was the Player of the Series during the three-match ODI series in Pakistan. In three innings, he smashed 239 runs at an average of 119.50 and a strike rate of 91.92, with one hundred and two half-centuries.

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"They're world-class and dangerous" - South Africa batting coach on Rohit, Kohli

Asked about the impact Rohit and Kohli could have in the ODI series, Prince admitted that the duo could prove extremely dangerous. However, he asserted that South Africa would be focused on the task at hand. He commented:

"They're world-class and dangerous. We tend to try to focus on what sort of damage we can cause the opposition rather than focus too much on how they can hurt us."

The former Proteas batter admitted that they are still trying to figure out their best ODI combination, since a lot of focus in recent months has been on the upcoming T20 World Cup and Test cricket. Prince explained:

"We've been able to try different combinations in the 50-over space and we still have time before getting close to a final squad."

The 48-year-old also applauded Test and ODI captain Temba Bavuma for South Africa's recent success on the big stage. Prince said:

"He's calm, he's collected. He's seen a lot of things in his career. He's faced a lot of adversity and that makes his character a real strong one. He stays calm and that obviously filters through the dressing room."

The Proteas beat India 2-0 in the recently concluded Test series. After a three-match ODI series, South Africa will also take on the Men in Blue in five T20Is.