ICC Champions Trophy 2025: The Champions Trophy is currently underway, with exciting matches taking place. India and New Zealand have already secured their spots in the semi-finals from Group A. However, the situation in Group B is still uncertain, with England out of the running and three teams vying for a spot. South Africa is a major contender, currently topping their group in the points table ahead of the Australia vs. Afghanistan match. Although it’s unclear whether the South African team will make it to the semi-finals, one of their players has made a significant statement, hinting that this could be his last ICC tournament.
Rassie van der Dussen’s Potential Last ICC Tournament
Rassie van der Dussen, a legendary South African batsman, is playing for his team in the Champions Trophy. He recently scored a valuable 52 runs against Afghanistan. South Africa is set to face England on March 1. Van der Dussen has stated that this may be his last ICC tournament. He mentioned that he doesn’t have any specific plans yet, and there hasn’t been any indication from the team, but it’s a reality he’s come to terms with. Many new players are emerging, such as Triston Stubbs, Tony de Zorzi, and Matthew Brets, who have already made an impact in domestic cricket and ODIs.
ODI World Cup 2027
The next ODI World Cup is scheduled for 2027, which will be a 50-over tournament. With two years to go, things can change significantly. Van der Dussen, now 36 years old, may not be able to play until 2027, by which time he’ll be 39. Although he hasn’t announced his retirement from ODIs, this could be his last ICC tournament in the 50-over format. Van der Dussen has played 69 ODIs for South Africa, scoring 2516 runs, including 6 centuries and 15 half-centuries.
South Africa’s Semi-Finals Hopes
South Africa is currently a strong contender to advance to the semi-finals from their group. However, they need to defeat England in their next match to secure their spot. The outcome of this match will determine how many more matches Van der Dussen will play in the ICC tournament. With his impressive record, Van der Dussen is eager to make the most of his time in the Champions Trophy.