I'm glad I didn't go through with retirement, feels like I'm at the peak of my career: Marizanne Kapp

Star South Africa women all-rounder Marizanne Kapp has revealed that she was considering international retirement earlier this year. Kapp has key performer for South Africa team while also being active part of various franchise cricket leagues. The pressure of competitive cricket alongside the controversy around her wife Dane van Niekerk's T20 World Cup snub had taken a severe toll on her, leading to retirement contemplation.

However, she was talked through back by the CSA director of cricket Enoch Nkwe to drop the idea. For the unversed, the 34-year-old had withdrawn from the tri-series final against India on personal grounds as van Niekerk was dropped from the World Cup squad on fitness grounds. The right-handed batter will aim for a fitting comeback as South Africa challenge the upcoming T20 World Cup and ODI World Cup.

"I did retire earlier this year - or asked to retire - and luckily I didn't. I spoke to the director of cricket, and he actually asked me to just hang on, think it through, [and] don't make decisions too quickly, and I'm glad that I didn't go through with it because I feel like I'm at the peak of my career,” Kapp was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

"The older I get, I'm getting better. So it would be a shame to have worked for all those years, and now [when] I'm at my peak, I retire from international cricket. I've loved playing in all these leagues, but playing for your country and at World Cups is a different level. CSA have been so good to me in helping manage my workload. Now I'll play for as long as I can contribute,” she added. 

Also read: Marizanne Kapp opts out of Tri-series final after wife Dane van Niekerk's World Cup snub

Van Niekerk was South Africa's long-time regular captain and her exclusion from the World Cup squad had raised many eyebrows. To further add, she has not played international cricket since 2021 and was dropped on the grounds of not meeting fitness requirements as per Cricket South Africa’s standards. Niekerk and Kapp got married in July 2018 and were the second women's cricket pair to tie the knot.

"It's probably been my toughest couple of years; it's not been easy," Kapp said. "I've always enjoyed my batting… but [I used to] feel like the world was always so focused on my bowling and wouldn't speak about my batting, and that makes you lose confidence. When I had that big knock, it was like, 'I can do this, I don't have to prove myself', and from there on, I've had a different confidence in my own ability. 

"My faith has been a massive part of it as well, having struggled with off-field matters, everything that happened with Dane, and with Covid. I spent so much time in my room reconnecting with the Lord."