Quinton de Kock pulls out of IPL 10

De Kock sustained a finger injury on the third day of the Wellington Test, last Saturday, and had X-rays done on the finger. After complaining of discomfort, he could not participate in nets on Wednesday and Thursday. 

As he has been advised to take at least four weeks to recover from the injury, CSA ruled him out of the 2017 IPL season for Delhi Daredevils in order to keep him fit for the Champions Trophy and the England Test series that follows the quadrennial event.

Although he was in some pain, de Kock was able to bat and catch with strapping and a finger splint, which was invented by physiotherapist Brandon Jackson. 

On being asked, why South Africa were risking de Kock when they have a reserve wicketkeeper in Heinrich Klaasen, skipper Faf du Plessis said, "It's a big game. Quinton is someone who you don't just replace. From my side, I am trying to have Quinton in my team all the time, he has had problems with his fingers for quite a while. It's part of being a keeper. It's never nice to catch balls on the fingertips all the time and it's been painful for him for a while. Maybe the cold New Zealand conditions make it worse. It's hurting for him a bit more now but because it's a big game, resting him for someone else is not an option."

"We are trying to put as much pressure as we can on New Zealand," du Plessis said.