Dwaine Pretorius

Dwaine Pretorius might not have established himself as firepower in international cricket, but he had the prowess to become the next Jacques Kallis to the Proteas side in all formats. However, his career has been marred by injuries from an early age. Post his twin knee injuries, Pretorius had decided to curb down on his pace and concentrate on disciplined line and lengths. 

On the back of some impressive performances at age-group level cricket, Pretorius was included in the South African squad for the 2008 U19 World Cup. However, he couldn’t make it to the final squad after tearing cartilage in his right knee. He then decided to study and earned a degree in accounting before giving cricket another go. 

Following his comeback to cricket, Pretorius was included in the North-West Provincial side in the 2010-11 season but made the XI in only the final match of the season. His exceptional performance in his debut match made him a regular in the side in the next season. Pretorius was also named the T20 Amateur Cricketer of the Year and was part of the Highveld Lions squad during the 2012 Champions League T20. However, he couldn’t make it to the squad as he needed immediate surgery on his knee, which flared up immensely in the lead-up to the tournament. 

When Pretorius finally returned to cricket, he focused more on line and length and shelved the idea of bowling at high speeds. Accuracy became his most potent weapon, and he also improved in his lower-order batting. He was included in the South African ODI squad, which was slated to play Ireland, and despite being named for that particular series, he held onto his place for the ODI series against Australia.

Pretorius made it to the South African Test squad for the tour of Australia in 2017 as an injury replacement to Dale Steyn. Owing to a strong pool of fast bowlers in the South African set-up, Pretorius hasn’t quite managed to cement his place in the side, but given his all-round potential, Pretorius should remain in contention. Pretorius was part of the World Cup squad in 2019 and played 3 matches, bagging 5 wickets in the process. 

In the years that followed, Pretorius became a crucial part of South Africa’s white-ball setup, particularly in T20Is. His ability to bowl tight lines and finish games with the bat made him an asset in the format. He played an integral role in the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup, finishing as South Africa’s highest wicket-taker in the tournament. His performance in T20Is continued to improve, and he became one of the Proteas’ go-to bowlers in the death overs while also contributing valuable runs in the lower order.

In the IPL, Pretorius was picked by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for the 2022 season. He played seven matches, scoring 44 runs and picking up 6 wickets. His ability to bowl at the death and hit quick runs made him a handy player for CSK. However, he was released ahead of the 2023 season.

In January 2023, Pretorius announced his retirement from international cricket to focus on playing in various T20 leagues and to spend more time with his family. Post-retirement, he remained active in franchise cricket, featuring in leagues such as SA20, CPL, BPL, LPL, and The Hundred.

In the SA20 2025 season, Pretorius played for the Durban Super Giants, featuring in three matches and taking two wickets with an economy rate of 9.00. Despite not being at his peak, his experience and all-round abilities made him a key player in the squad.

Later that year, the South African was yet again acquired by the Chennai Super Kings for the IPL 2025 edition of the lucrative league. 

As 2025 unfolds, Pretorius remains a sought-after name in T20 leagues worldwide, using his wealth of experience and balanced skill set to make an impact across various franchise tournaments.

(As of March 2025)