The 37-year-old shared his decision on April 2 via a social media post, stepping away from all three formats after nearly eight years at the top level.

While his retirement isn’t entirely unexpected he was recently omitted from Cricket South Africa’s central contract list, and his last international outing was back in August 2025 during a T20I against Australia it still marks the end of one of the more reliable batting careers South Africa has witnessed.

Van der Dussen’s journey was never about early fame. He made his international debut at 29, which is quite late compared to most players who are already well-established by that age. However, once he got his chance, he quickly made his mark.

From Debut Record to World Cup Heroics

He holds the unique record of being the only cricketer to score a half-century on debut in all three formats. In ODIs, he was especially impressive, amassing 2,657 runs in 71 matches with an average of 50.13, making him the second-highest run-scorer for South Africa after AB de Villiers. He also became the fastest South African to reach 2,000 ODI runs, achieving this milestone in just 45 innings.

Throughout his career, he played 18 Tests (scoring 905 runs), 71 ODIs (2,657 runs), and 57 T20Is (1,406 runs). Although he never fully secured a long-term spot in the Test team, his white-ball statistics were remarkable. One of his most memorable performances came during the 2023 ODI World Cup, where he scored an impressive 133 against New Zealand.

Van der Dussen also had a short stint in the IPL with the Rajasthan Royals in 2022. Even though he played only three matches, he often mentioned how that experience helped him better understand the playing conditions in the subcontinent. He earned a reputation as a dependable batter in challenging situations, particularly against formidable bowling attacks. His standout performance against India, which included a match-winning 75* in a 212-run chase in Delhi in 2022, was arguably his finest T20I innings.