Exclusive: Lhuan-dre Pretorius Makes ODI Debut with Childhood Idol Quinton de Kock

It has been a season to remember for Lhuan-dre Pretorius, the young batting sensation who first captured attention during the SA20 tournament last year with the Paarl Royals. His meteoric rise has now reached a new milestone by making his ODI debut for South Africa against Pakistan, and doing so alongside his childhood idol, Quinton de Kock.

For Pretorius, it’s more than just a debut, it’s a dream come true.

“It’s so great having him [de Kock] back, I can’t really explain it,” Pretorius said with a smile. 

“I remember being six years old and only watching cricket when he was batting, I’d turn it off when he got out. To play with him now… I’m just grateful, to be honest.”

Test Omission Doesn’t Dampen His Spirit

Despite his impressive form, Pretorius was left out of South Africa’s Test squads for the upcoming tours of Pakistan and India. But the omission hasn’t shaken his determination or his mindset.

“As a batter, runs are your currency,” he told SportsBoom.co.za. 

“I just need to score as many runs as possible in the four-day series. By scoring runs, I’ll get myself back into the team. My focus is simply to keep scoring.”

Settling Into the Proteas Environment

Pretorius has quickly found his rhythm within the Proteas setup, crediting the strong team culture and camaraderie that define the current South African squad.

“It’s been good with the Proteas so far,” he said. 

“It’s cool to see how close everyone is. We work well together and everyone compliments each other.”

His goal for the season is simple but clear: to stay in the national setup and continue learning.

“For me, I just want to stay in that [Proteas] environment. That will be my goal. It’s been truly amazing so far.”

Coach Conrad’s Confidence Key to Success

Head coach Shukri Conrad has played a major role in shaping Pretorius’ approach, encouraging his players to express themselves freely on the field.

“He [Conrad] backs us fully,” Pretorius said. 

“He encourages me and everyone to play with as much freedom and confidence as we can. That’s what got me here in the first place. I play my best cricket with confidence and freedom.”