Rassie van der Dussen, a 36-year-old veteran of South African cricket, is coming to terms with the transient nature of his career as younger players emerge. While many see the next two years as preparation for the 2027 ODI World Cup on home soil, Van der Dussen is open to the idea that the upcoming Champions Trophy in 2025 might be his final appearance in a major international tournament.
Van der Dussen, who celebrated his 36th birthday earlier this month, currently specializes in one format for South Africa, although he has represented the nation in all three formats of the game. As he gets older and the pool of talented young batsmen expands, he has accepted that his time in the national team is finite.
“It’s quite possible that this Champions Trophy will be my last ICC tournament,” Van der Dussen admitted from Karachi, where South Africa is preparing for their final group match against England. “I’m not saying this with any intention to retire immediately, nor am I suggesting the team management is looking to end my career. It’s simply facing reality.”
He acknowledges and welcomes the influx of young talent into South African cricket. He mentioned players like Tristan Stubbs and Tony de Zorzi, who are currently on the fringes, and Matthew Breetzke and Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who are making waves in domestic cricket. Van der Dussen recognizes the healthy competition and understands that consistent performance is crucial to maintain his place in the team. He stated, “I am aware that if I don’t perform, someone will be ready to take my spot. I don’t expect any special treatment; a competitive environment naturally pushes everyone to improve.”
Several of the players Van der Dussen highlighted – Stubbs, de Zorzi, and Rickelton – are indeed part of South Africa’s Champions Trophy squad. They are vying for a limited number of spots in the top order. One of these is the opening position alongside captain Temba Bavuma, a role shared recently by de Zorzi and Rickelton. The other is the No. 3 position, Van der Dussen’s usual role since 2019, where he has excelled, holding South Africa’s third-highest ODI batting average. However, his form has dipped slightly in the past year.
Prior to his half-century against Afghanistan, Van der Dussen had gone ten innings without reaching fifty, and thirteen innings since his last century. While his place in the team for the England match seems secure, the return of Heinrich Klaasen from injury could potentially put Van der Dussen under pressure if the team opts to retain Bavuma, de Zorzi, and Rickelton.
South Africa has not yet disclosed details about Klaasen’s elbow injury or his fitness status for the upcoming game. If Klaasen is fit to play against England, it is conceivable that de Zorzi might be the one to miss out, giving Van der Dussen an opportunity in a tournament he has eagerly anticipated. “I’ve always aimed to play in the Champions Trophy, and now that it’s here, I will reassess my future afterwards,” he said. “My national contract is up for renewal at the end of April.”
Van der Dussen plans to discuss his future with coach Rob Walter and Enoch Nkwe, the director of national teams, to understand their vision for his role going forward. “I believe I’m playing well and dedicating significant effort to my physical fitness. If I’m still capable in two years, I hope to remain in contention. If younger players surpass me, and I can’t keep pace, I’m comfortable with that as well.”
Unlike some cricketers at a similar stage of their careers, Van der Dussen seems committed to prioritizing his national contract over lucrative league opportunities. “My primary ambition has always been to represent the Proteas,” Van der Dussen emphasized. “People ask if I’ll pursue leagues later on, and I’m unsure. If the opportunity to play for the Proteas disappears, I don’t know if I’ll still have the same drive for league cricket. Representing my country has been my main and only goal, so if that ends, I’m uncertain of my next steps. If offered another contract, I will definitely accept it and commit fully for that duration.”
Even if his contract doesn’t extend to the 2027 World Cup, Van der Dussen is keen to contribute to South Africa’s ODI team’s progress towards the home tournament. “I imagine that from a management perspective, the focus will shift to building the 2027 World Cup squad and ensuring they play together regularly. However, with numerous leagues scheduled in the coming months, consistent availability will be a challenge. So, even in a transitional role, I’m willing to commit. Playing for my country is the ultimate honor for me. Leagues are appealing, but they aren’t my ultimate objective.”
He confirmed his retirement from red-ball cricket, stating, “In the last year or two of my career, I don’t foresee myself playing any more red-ball cricket,” and mentioned declining a county offer for this year. Instead, he is concentrating on enhancing his skills in the shorter formats of the game to maximize his career. “I’ve participated in several leagues and performed well. Even formats like T10 have improved my game. That’s why I still feel motivated and believe I’m playing at a high level.”
Currently, South Africa is set to play at least one more Champions Trophy match, and depending on other results, they might not even need to win it to advance to the semi-finals. They are scheduled to face England, who are already out of contention but remain a formidable opponent. “We’ve approached this tournament viewing the England match as a potential quarter-final scenario – the winner advances. While their situation has changed, for us, it’s still a match against England. We don’t need any extra motivation to play against England.”
