Cricket South Africa awarded Anrich Nortje the T20I Player of the Year award, even though the pacer last played in the format a year ago.
Anrich Nortje named South Africa men's T20I player of the year
Nortje last played for South Africa in the T20 World Cup final against India in June last year. He finished as their leading wicket-taker and the tournament's joint second-highest overall, claiming 15 wickets at an average of 13.40 and an economy of 5.74. His standout performance came against Sri Lanka in New York, where his 4-7 became the fourth most economical spell in T20 World Cup history. With the judging period including this tournament, this was likely to have carried significant weight.
The fast bowler has endured a frustrating run with injuries. His return to international cricket just before the 2024 T20 World Cup came after nearly a year out due to a stress fracture in his lower back, which forced him to miss the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. After South Africa's runners-up finish in the T20 World Cup, a broken toe during nets ruled him out of the December home series against Pakistan. Another back injury subsequently sidelined him for the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Nortje’s latest setback – a "stress reaction" – ruled him out of the Zimbabwe tri-series (won by New Zealand). He also didn't play MLC 2025 with Los Angeles Knight Riders. His only competitive appearances this year came in the IPL for Kolkata Knight Riders, where he played just two matches.
The Men’s T20 International Player of the Year award goes to Anrich Nortje! 💥🇿🇦
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) July 31, 2025
A phenomenal performer in the shortest format who delivered explosive moments of brilliance and world-class consistency in T20 internationals. 👏🔥 #CSAAwards2025 #WozaNawe pic.twitter.com/ntHkBKRIRK
Bavuma becomes CSA's Test Player of the Year
South Africa's World Test Championship-winning captain, Temba Bavuma, was named Test Player of the Year at the CSA awards. He scored 711 runs at 59.25 during the 2025-27 cycle, including twin centuries in the previous home summer that helped secure his team's place in the final. Meanwhile, retired Heinrich Klaasen claimed CSA’s ODI Player of the Year award after topping the run charts in South Africa’s series against Pakistan – a standout performance in an otherwise lean ODI season for the Proteas.
Keshav Maharaj was adjudged the Men’s Player of the Year for his consistent performances across formats, particularly in Tests and T20Is. The spinner emerged as South Africa’s second-highest wicket-taker in the 2023-25 WTC cycle with 41 wickets at 20.95, while also finishing as their third-leading bowler at the T20 World Cup with 11 scalps at an impressive economy of 6.25.
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