Dané van Niekerk retired in
March 2023 after failing to meet
South Africa's fitness requirement
for selection.
She missed the 2km run time by just
18 seconds, excluding her from the home T20 World Cup squad.
At the point of retirement,
van Niekerk was just 29 and a
record-holding South Africa captain.
Her statement revealed she felt "absolutely broken" with no closure after the omission, posting
emotional farewells online.
Injuries—including a lower back problem and a serious ankle injury—
had limited her international appearances since 2021.
She ended her international career
with 194 appearances across
formats, 4074 runs and 204 wickets, highlighting a significant legacy.
Following retirement, she remained active in domestic T20 leagues and supported her wife, Marizanne Kapp,
in her own career.
In August 2025, van Niekerk
revoked her retirement and
expressed regret at how she
handled her exit, aiming for an international comeback.