The 2026 T20 World Cup begins on February 7th. However, the South African team appears to be facing a major setback ahead of the tournament. This is because their powerful all-rounder, Donovan Ferreira, has suffered an injury. Ferreira suffered a shoulder injury while playing in the SA20, which has cast doubt on his participation in the tournament.
Big problem for South Africa ahead of the T20I World Cup 2026
Donovan Ferreira was injured during the match between Johannesburg Super Kings and Pretoria Capitals on January 17th. Ferreira, playing for Johannesburg Super Kings, was fielding at the cover boundary when he dived to stop a ball, injuring his shoulder. After fielding, Ferreira came out to bat, but due to his shoulder injury, he could not play more than one ball and retired hurt. According to ESPNcricinfo, he has a fractured shoulder.
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A shoulder fracture has not only ruled Donovan Ferreira out of the SA20 but also threatens his participation in the 2026 T20 World Cup. If the fracture is serious, it’s highly unlikely he’ll be fit for the T20 World Cup. Consequently, his chances of missing the ICC tournament have increased.
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Now the question is, who will replace Donovan Ferreira if he is ruled out? The answer is Ryan Rickelton . The wicketkeeper-batsman has not been selected in the South African squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup. However, if Donovan is ruled out, there’s every chance he could find a place in the South African squad.
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South Africa allrounder Donovan Ferreira could miss the T20 World Cup due to a shoulder injury. ESPNcricinfo understands he sustained a fracture while fielding during the SA20 https://t.co/SPAtSObWAa pic.twitter.com/mfrJkpfQaY
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) January 19, 2026
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Now the question is, why is Ricky Ponting a strong contender? The answer lies in his performance in the SA20. Ricky Ponting is the leading run-scorer in the SA20. He has scored 337 runs in nine innings in this T20 league, including two centuries. During this period, his strike rate has been above 156 and he has hit 24 sixes.
