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3 Potential Replacements For Rassie Van Der Dussen In SA’s Squad After Champions Trophy

Jatin

Rassie van der Dussen hinted at retirement [Source: @yashjain4163/x.com]Rassie van der Dussen hinted at retirement [Source: @yashjain4163/x.com]

It looks like South Africa is on the verge of bidding farewell to one of its most reliable batters. Rassie van der Dussen, at 36, has hinted that the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy might be his last ICC tournament which means the Proteas need to start planning for life beyond their ever-consistent batter.

Rassie Van der Dussen has been a rock in the middle order, absorbing pressure and playing the anchor role when needed. He’s been the kind of batter who can grind out a tough pitch or accelerate when required which made him an invaluable asset in ODIs.

With South Africa’s Champions Trophy campaign going strong, the focus is still on winning, but behind the scenes, the think tank will already be eyeing potential replacements. Finding someone to replicate Rassie’s consistency and temperament won’t be easy, but South Africa has some solid options waiting in the wings.

Let’s take a look at three batters who could replace Rassie van der Dussen in South Africa's ODI squad post-Champions Trophy.

3. Lhuan-dre Pretorius

If South Africa is looking for firepower, Lhuan-dre Pretorius is a name that cannot be ignored. The hard-hitting top-order batter was a revelation in SA20 2025, finishing as the tournament’s leading run-scorer while opening for Paarl Royals. He was instrumental in taking his side to Qualifier 2, consistently setting the tone at the top.

His numbers in SA20 2025 speak volumes:

  • 397 runs in 12 matches
  • Strike rate of 166.80
  • Three fifties and two match-winning knocks

The only challenge with slotting Pretorius into the ODI XI is that he is an opener, whereas Rassie has primarily played at No. 3 or No. 4. If he gets a call-up, South Africa might need to shuffle their batting order, but in return, they get a batter who can dominate the powerplay and take the attack to the opposition. If the Proteas want to inject some explosiveness into their top order, Pretorius might just be their guy.


2. Dewald Brevis

When people talk about South Africa’s future batting stars, Dewald Brevis is always in the conversation. The young sensation has been around the T20 circuit for a while, gaining invaluable experience across different leagues and now could be the perfect time to bring him into the ODI setup permanently.

His numbers in SA20 2025 for MI Cape Town highlight his ability to both anchor and attack:

  • 291 runs in 12 matches
  • Average of 48.50
  • Strike rate of 184.17

Brevis is not just a power hitter, but also someone who can hold an innings together which makes him an ideal candidate to slot into South Africa’s middle order. His amazing skill to counterattack and handle spin well makes him a long-term solution, especially with ODIs evolving into a more aggressive format.

With limited opportunities at the international level so far, giving him a consistent run in ODIs could see him flourish into a match-winner. South Africa has invested in him for T20s, but it might be time to unleash Baby AB in the 50-over format too.

1. Matthew Breetzke

If recent performances are anything to go by, Matthew Breetzke is making a strong case for himself. While his SA20 2025 numbers were modest (117 runs in 9 matches), he absolutely lit up the recent tri-series between South Africa, Pakistan and New Zealand, proving that he can deliver in high-pressure situations.

His stats from the tri-series are nothing short of sensational:

  • 233 runs in 2 matches
  • One century (150) and a fifty.
  • Average of 116.50

Breetzke has shown that he can handle quality bowling attacks, adapt to different conditions and most importantly, play the long innings, something South Africa will miss when Rassie leaves.

The only catch? He is primarily an opener, which means the batting order would need a shuffle. But with South Africa often promoting aggressive batters up the order, having someone like Breetzke to provide stability at No. 3 could be the perfect transition.

His ability to build an innings and accelerate when needed makes him the closest match to Rassie’s role which is why he tops this list.