March 27, 2025: After guiding Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to a commanding eight-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, Quinton de Kock spoke about the vital role an opener plays in shaping the course of a match.
In a post-match video released by IPL, De Kock shared his insights on how openers are responsible for setting the tone of the game, whether it’s capitalizing on a batter’s good form or responding effectively to bowlers’ strengths. He emphasized that adaptability is key to the role, whether it’s taking charge or working with the situation at hand.
“It’s my job, I have to do that. As an opener, you have to see the game and take it forward. If a guy smokes it all the time, it’s your job. If a guy is good at bowling yorkers, you bowl yorkers. We did what we could have done best,” said De Kock after his impressive knock of 97* off 61 balls.
De Kock’s statement highlighted his awareness of the nuances of an opener’s role in the team. He also mentioned that the team had spoken after their previous game in Kolkata to discuss how they could improve their performance going forward. He felt that their victory against RR was a direct result of those discussions.
“After the last game in Kolkata, we went to each other and balanced on how to take things forward. Tonight was the glimpse of what we talked about, and that just helped us to win,” De Kock added.
De Kock’s stellar 97* knock, which featured eight boundaries and six sixes, earned him the Player of the Match accolade and propelled KKR to an easy victory. With this performance, KKR secured an eight-wicket win over RR in the sixth match of IPL 2025 at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, with 15 balls to spare. His performance not only helped KKR win but also provided a perfect example of the role of an opener in leading a team to success.