EXCLUSIVE | Rassie isn’t going anywhere yet, despite Proteas absence

Right from the start of his tenure, Shukri Conrad has made bold decisions in terms of selection. He immediately stripped Dean Elgar of the Test captaincy, handing it to Temba Bavuma, signalling that Elgar’s time in Test cricket was nearing an end as players like Tony de Zorzi and Ryan Rickelton emerged as potential replacements.

A number of experienced Proteas players, including Rassie van der Dussen, are currently in the dark, with Conrad continuing to exclude him from the white-ball setup. Van der Dussen hasn’t played for the Proteas since the Tour to Australia in August.

Even then, he was only included in the T20I squad and missed the ODIs, as Conrad emphasised his desire to explore and widen the depth in ODI cricket by blooding youngsters like Lhuandre Pretorius.

Van der Dussen also missed trips to England, Pakistan and India, as Conrad chose not to select him for the T20I legs of those tours. At 36-years old, the right-handed batter understands he is at the tail end of his career — but he also respects the coach’s prerogative to select the players he believes will take the team forward.

Following the fourth T20I in Lucknow, the Proteas have four more T20Is before the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Given Van der Dussen’s absence since August, many assume he is not in the tournament plans.

“Obviously, I haven't been part of these last few squads. I certainly haven't ruled myself out of contention. Those decisions were taken for me,” Van der Dussen said.

“Whether that’s unfortunate or fortunate, I don’t know. I have no intention of stopping anytime soon.”

Van der Dussen made it clear that he still sees a future in international cricket and could be available for the ODI World Cup in South Africa just over a year from now.

“I think at least another two or three years. Whether I’ll go until 40, I’m not sure — the body will decide. But from my side, I’m certainly going to put everything into it and give it a really good go.

"I haven’t stepped away from international cricket. The coach has his own plans, and that’s fair enough. Each coach must have their own ideas and players they back.

“The message for me, which I was thinking about during the CSA T20 Challenge, is that I’m still here. I’m not going anywhere. I think I can still offer something.

"Experience is a big factor, sometimes overlooked. Look at Quinny (Quinton de Kock) coming back after two years – he’s straight back into it. Obviously, he’s a great player skill-wise, but experience plays a massive role. I’m still all in.”

Van der Dussen showcased his form in the CSA T20 Challenge, scoring two half-centuries in six innings, including an unbeaten 94 off just 54 deliveries against a strong Dolphins bowling attack.

From next week, Van der Dussen will ply his trade with MI Cape Town in the SA20 for a fourth consecutive season. The defending champions start their campaign in the opening match on Friday against Durban's Super Giants.