India, Dec. 12 -- Just a few games after his return to international cricket, Quinton de Kock has given South Africa and the world a glimpse of what they were missing. After taking a much-needed break from the game, the Proteas opener has walked back into the side with the ease and fluency of someone who never truly left.

His recent century at Visakhapatnam - marked by clean ball-striking, assured footwork and an unmistakable calmness at the crease - reminded the cricketing world of the impact he can have at the top of the order. In the same vein, his 46-ball knock of 90 runs in the second T20I against India showed off his class.

The 32-year-old had retired from ODIs after the 2023 World Cup and hadn't featured in T20Is since South Afri...