South African cricket prodigy Lhuan-dre Pretorius continues to make major headlines in 2025 following a remarkable run of form in both international and franchise cricket. In July 2025, Pretorius extended his sensational rise by scoring a rapid 78 on the opening day of the second Test between South Africa and Zimbabwe in Bulawayo. Joining stand-in skipper Wiaan Mulder with the score at 208/3, the 19-year-old left-hander played an aggressive innings, hitting seven fours and three sixes before being dismissed for 78 off 87 balls[2].
Pretorius’s performance came hot on the heels of a historic debut in the first Test of the series. At 19 years and 93 days old, he became the youngest South African ever to score a Test century, surpassing the longstanding record held by Graeme Pollock. Pretorius reached his maiden Test hundred in 113 balls and finished his debut innings with 153 off 160 deliveries, including 11 fours and four sixes. He also broke the Test cricket record as the youngest player ever to score 150 on debut, besting Pakistan’s Javed Miandad[2].
The selectors rewarded Pretorius with his call-up after a prolific domestic run, which included topping the run charts for Paarl Royals in the 2025 SA20 season with 397 runs in 12 matches, and a standout display at the 2024 ICC Under-19 World Cup, where he led South Africa’s batting with 287 runs at an average of 57.40[1].
Pretorius joined the Rajasthan Royals squad for IPL 2025 as a replacement for the injured Nitish Rana. He was signed at his base price of Rs 30 lakh. In his T20 career to date, Pretorius has played 33 matches, scored 911 runs at an average of 27.60, and maintained a brisk strike rate of 147.17[1].
Among his domestic T20 achievements, he made an immediate impact for Paarl Royals, hitting 97 on debut against Sunrisers Eastern Cape and 83 against MI Cape Town, earning Player of the Match honors in both games. He finished as the SA20’s leading run scorer in 2025[4].
Pretorius also features in South Africa’s squad for the July 2025 T20I tri-series against Zimbabwe and New Zealand, underlining his growing stature in all formats at just 19 years of age[4].