Rassie van der Dussen

Rassie van der Dussen is one of those few players who managed to grab his opportunity with both hands at the highest level. Having plied his trade in cricket in countries like South Africa, England, the Netherlands, Canada, and Ireland, van der Dussen finally returned to South Africa after getting noticed by the national selectors. He was fast-tracked into the national side and made his international debut in a T20I against Zimbabwe in October 2018. He scored a half-century on his T20I debut and followed it up with a 92 against Pakistan in his ODI debut. 

On the back of some consistent showings in the domestic circuit, Rassie was included in the South Africa A squad for the tour of India early in 2018. He made an immediate impact in subcontinent conditions and showed his wide array of shots and adaptability at the top of the order or in the middle. He was selected in the national squad for the Test series against India in late 2019. 

Van der Dussen is naturally an attacking batter who prefers the shorter formats but given his sense of adaptability, he has also made a name for himself in the longest format. Having made his first-class debut way back in 2008, it took quite some time for Van der Dussen to establish himself at the highest level. 

He was the top scorer in South Africa’s first-class domestic competition in the 2017-18 season and bagged a contract with St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the CPL 2018. He also won the inaugural Global T20 Canada 2018 with the Vancouver Knights. Dussen topped the batting charts in the Mzansi Super League with 469 runs under his belt. 

Van der Dussen had a sensational time with the bat in the T20I series against England post the COVID-19 break as his team was whitewashed 3-0. He scored a brilliant half-century in the opening encounter and followed it up with a 32-ball 74 in the final encounter. The 31-year-old doesn’t have a long career in front of him, but he should make full use of the chances he gets in the coming few years.

Van der Dussen continued to be a vital part of South Africa’s white-ball setup, cementing his place as a dependable middle-order batter. His ability to absorb pressure and play match-defining innings made him an invaluable asset for the Proteas in both ODIs and T20Is.

His performances in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup were a testament to his consistency. Despite South Africa’s disappointing campaign, van der Dussen was one of the team’s standout performers, finishing as their second-highest run-scorer with 311 runs at an average of 62.20. His adaptability and calmness under pressure earned him recognition as one of South Africa’s most reliable batters in the limited-overs format.

In the following years, he continued to perform at a high level, becoming one of South Africa’s key players in ICC tournaments. He played a crucial role in the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, scoring an unbeaten 94 off 60 balls against England, showcasing his ability to accelerate and anchor the innings when required.

By 2022, Van der Dussen had also solidified his place in South Africa’s Test squad. He played a key role in South Africa’s Test series victories against India and England, proving his adaptability across formats. His century against England at Old Trafford in 2022 highlighted his grit and determination in red-ball cricket. However, a finger injury ruled him out of the remainder of the series, causing a temporary setback in his international career. He returned to the squad in 2023 and was a crucial part of South Africa’s campaign in the ICC Cricket World Cup in India. He started the tournament with a brilliant century against Sri Lanka and finished as one of South Africa’s leading run-scorers, helping the team reach the semifinals. Despite falling short of the final, Van der Dussen’s performances reinforced his importance in South Africa’s batting lineup. In franchise cricket, he remained a sought-after player, featuring in leagues such as the IPL, CPL, and SA20. He was picked up by the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL and continued to deliver match-winning performances in T20 leagues worldwide. As 2025 unfolds, Van der Dussen remains a crucial player for South Africa in all formats. His experience and ability to handle high-pressure situations make him an integral part of the Proteas’ middle order. With another T20 World Cup approaching, he will be looking to further establish himself as one of the best middle-order batters in the game and contribute to South Africa’s quest for an ICC trophy. (As of May 2025)