South Africa’s ODI stalwart signs off with a proud heart, leaving behind a legacy built on grit, consistency, and quiet excellence.
Rassie van der Dussen has brought the curtain down on his international career, announcing his retirement from cricket for South Africa on Thursday. The 36-year-old, who had been on a hybrid central contract with Cricket South Africa (CSA) but was not re-signed for the 2026-27 season, had not featured for the Proteas in seven months. A quiet exit for a player who gave anything but a quiet performance throughout his career.
Across all three formats, his numbers tell the story of a cricketer who made every game count:
| Format | Matches | Runs | Average | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 18 | 866 | 28.86 | 1 | 6 |
| ODIs | 71 | 2453 | 54.51 | 6 | 17 |
| T20Is | 57 | 1029 | 26.38 | 0 | 5 |
In the fifty-over format, his legacy is most firmly etched. He finishes with the second-highest ODI batting average in South Africa’s history, behind only AB de Villiers, and announced himself with five half-centuries in his first nine appearances.
At the 2019 World Cup, when de Villiers offered his services, van der Dussen handled the selection storm with rare maturity. Despite South Africa’s early exit, he finished as their second-leading run-scorer with three half-centuries.
He will continue to represent Lions and has committed to mentoring the next generation of South African cricketers. A player who came late, made every opportunity count, and left with grace.
