- Nationality
South Africa- Cricket
- Lhuan-dre Pretorius
- Current Team
- RR
A fearless young prodigy and a rising star in South African cricket, Lhuan-dre Pretorius (born March 27, 2006) is a dynamic left-handed wicketkeeper-batter. Known for his “no-look” sixes and aggressive intent at the top of the order, he first gained global attention as South Africa’s leading run-scorer in the 2024 Under-19 World Cup.
Entering the 2026 season, Pretorius has transitioned from a youth sensation to an international record-breaker. Following a historic debut for South Africa in 2025—where he became the youngest Protea to score a Test century—he was retained by the Rajasthan Royals (RR) for the 2026 IPL season at a value of ₹30 Lakh.
Lhuan-dre Pretorius: The Proteas’ Next Superstar
Option 1: Narrative & Record-Breaking Style (Best for Player Bio)
Lhuan-dre Pretorius: The Teenage Sensation Breaking 60-Year Records
Lhuan-dre Pretorius’ rise is the stuff of modern cricketing legends. At just 19 years and 93 days, he shattered a 60-year-old record previously held by Graeme Pollock to become the youngest South African to score a Test century, smashing 153 on debut against Zimbabwe in June 2025. His ability to blend classical technique with T20-style aggression has made him an indispensable asset for the Proteas across all formats. Now, as a vital “Knight” in the Rajasthan Royals squad, Pretorius is poised to translate his international dominance into IPL fireworks alongside fellow youngsters like Vaibhav Suryavanshi.
Option 2: News Style (Best for a2news24.com)
RR Retain South African Prodigy Lhuan-dre Pretorius for IPL 2026
Rajasthan Royals have reaffirmed their commitment to youth by retaining 19-year-old Lhuan-dre Pretorius for the 2026 campaign. Pretorius joined the Royals as a replacement for Nitish Rana in 2025 and quickly integrated into the squad’s aggressive culture.
The left-handed dasher enters the 2026 season on the back of an exceptional 2025, where he averaged 78.33 in Tests and scored an ODI debut fifty against Pakistan. Currently featuring in SA20 Season 4 for the Paarl Royals, Pretorius has already smashed 170 runs this winter. With RR trading away Donovan Ferreira, Pretorius is expected to play a more consistent role as an explosive opening option or a flexible middle-order floater for coach Rahul Dravid.
Option 3: Short & Dynamic (Best for Social Media/Sidebars)
Lhuan-dre Pretorius: The “Next Big Thing” is a Royal! 💗
Youngest Test centurion for SA? Check. U19 World Cup hero? Check. Rajasthan’s explosive opening weapon? Absolutely! Lhuan-dre Pretorius is officially back for IPL 2026. From his record-breaking 153 on Test debut to his 150+ T20 strike rate, the left-handed powerhouse is a bonafide match-winner. Retained for ₹30 Lakh and mentored by Kumar Sangakkara, the #HallaBol star is ready to take the IPL by storm. Watch for the newest Protea sensation at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium!
Lhuan-dre Pretorius: Career Statistics
Data consolidated as of January 20, 2026.
IPL & T20 Career Stats
| Year | Team | Matches | Runs | High Score | Average | Strike Rate | 50s | 4s | 6s |
| IPL 2025 | RR | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SA20 2026* | Paarl | 10 | 170 | 98 | 21.25 | 119.72 | 1 | 17 | 3 |
| SA20 2025 | Paarl | 12 | 397 | 97 | 33.08 | 166.81 | 3 | 47 | 16 |
| Overall T20 | – | 33 | 911 | 98 | 29.38 | 148.50 | 5 | 110 | 42 |
| *Ongoing Season. |
International Career Summary
| Format | Matches | Runs | High Score | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s |
| Test Cricket | 2 | 235 | 153 | 78.33 | 92.89 | 1 | 1 |
| ODI Cricket | 3 | 142 | 57 | 47.33 | 97.93 | 0 | 1 |
| T20 Int’l | 12 | 157 | 51 | 13.08 | 121.71 | 0 | 1 |
