Donovan Ferrira is in doubt for the T20 World Cup after he injured his shoulder during the S20 competition: Here's how Scould be replaced if he is ruled out.
Ferreira sustained the injury while fielding, landing awkwardly on his left shoulder while trying to stop a four for Joburg Super Kings. According to ESPNCricinfo, he has been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament and could be in doubt for the T20 World Cup, starting from February 7.
Picked as the reserve wicketkeeper, finisher and a part-time bowler, his absence could be a major blow to the Proteas. Here’s how South Africa could replace him in the squad if he is ruled out.
Lhuan-dre Pretorius
The 19-year-old wunderkind has been making waves ever since he top-scored for the country at the 2024 under-19 World Cup. His breakout season was during the CSA T20 Challenge in 2024, where he struck 235 runs at a strike rate of 158.78, which helped him earn an SA20 contract. He ended the 2024/25 season with 397 runs at 33.08 and a strike rate of 166.8. In 2025, he struck at 146.98 across 32 matches, and while he is not in the best of forms in the ongoing SA20, where he averages 19.71 at a strike rate of 117.94, he is one of the most talented youngsters around. With Quinton de Kock as the only other keeper in the squad, picking him will also give South Africa the choice of a second gloveman, in case of injury.
Ryan Rickelton
Rickelton, who was a surprise exclusion from the T20 World Cup squad, made a century in his first SA20 knock of this tournament. The 29-year-old, who is in phenomenal form of late, could also be another wicketkeeping choice in the squad. Rickelton scored 336 runs in the 2024/25 SA20, at a strike rate of 178.72, and followed it up with a fine show in the IPL. Playing for the Mumbai Indians, he struck at 150.97 across 14 games, and his experience of playing in Indian conditions should tilt the odds in his favour. However, like Dre-Pretorius, he usually bats at the top of the order, while Ferreira would have acted as the finisher.
Tristan Stubbs
Another shock exclusion, Stubbs was left out of the T20 World Cup team in favour of Jason Smith, who has an unremarkable overall T20 career himself. However, he has been in the midst of runs recently, in both the CSA T20 Challenge and the SA20. At the same time, Stubbs has been in a poor patch of form, crossing 40 just once since the 2025 IPL ended. However, his experience in the country, where he has an excellent form, works for him: In 32 matches in the competition, he has a strike rate of 163.19 at an average of 41.47, which rises to 170.78 at 52.15 since the start of the 2024 season.
Matthew Breetzke
Another wicketkeeper in the midst, Breetzke, could be an outside pick. He has limited exposure in India, playing just one T20 in the country, and his strike rate of 130.85 since January 2025 remains unflattering. However, he has plenty of experience, with 138 T20s under his name, and can be an aggressive player on his day, as seen by his 33-ball 52 against the Capitals in this ongoing SA20.
Senuran Muthusamy
An off-field pick, but with South Africa’s spin bowling resources taking a further hit after Ferreira’s injury, they could turn to the left-arm spinner Muthusamy. South Africa’s 15-member squad had two primary spin options, in George Linde and Keshav Maharaj, with Aiden Markram as a part-timer, alongside Ferreira. With the pitches in India likely to be on the slower side, the hosts have four frontline spinners in the squad; in comparison, South Africa’s team looks quite pace-heavy. Muthusamy is also in form in the ongoing SA20, picking up nine wickets with an economy rate of 7.52, further opening up doors for him.
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