Wiaan Mulder: South Africa’s Rising All-Round Star – Journey from Jo’burg to Test Cricket Hero”

“Wiaan Mulder: South Africa’s Rising All-Round Star – Journey from Jo’burg to Test Cricket Hero”

🏏 Who is Wiaan Mulder?

Pieter Willem Adriaan “Wiaan” Mulder, born on February 19, 1998, in Johannesburg, is a dynamic right-handed batsman and right-arm medium‑pace bowler. Standing at 1.85m, he's known for his calm presence under pressure—on and off the field .

🌱 Early Beginnings & Domestic Domination

Schooling & Youth Cricket: Mulder attended St Stithians College in Johannesburg and featured in Gauteng's age-group squads starting from under-13 .

Early Recognition: At the 2016 ICC Under‑19 World Cup, he emerged as South Africa’s top wicket-taker .

First-Class Breakthrough (2016–17): While still in school, Mulder debuted for Highveld Lions at The Wanderers in October 2016. He stunned with figures of 7 wickets, including 3/10 in the first innings .

T20 & List A Debut: He debuted in domestic T20 (Nov 2016) and List A (Feb 2017) during strong runs as CSA’s domestic circuit .

He later joined Kent (2019) and Leicestershire (2021–2024) in England. A career highlight came in July 2022 when he scored an unbeaten 235*, marking a dominant presence as a batsman .

Youth icons like <a href="https://kamaleshtiwarijaunpuri.blogspot.com/2025/06/greta-thunberg-voice-of-generation.html" target="_blank">Greta Thunberg</a> and Wiaan Mulder are shaping global conversations.

🌍 Going Global: Franchise Cricket & SA20

Mzansi Super League (2019): Mulder wore the Tshwane Spartans’ colors in the inaugural season .

SA20 League (2023–): He joined the Durban’s Super Giants, balancing his all-round skills in T20s .

🌐 International Career Snapshot

ODI Debut: Mulder debuted for South Africa in ODIs against Bangladesh on 22 October 2017, aged 19 .

Test Debut: He earned his Test cap on 21 February 2019 versus Sri Lanka .

T20I Debut: April 2021 saw him debut in T20Is against Pakistan .

WTC Triumph & Milestones: A key member of South Africa’s squad in the victorious 2025 ICC World Test Championship, Mulder continued to show his all-round prowess .

His stat line (as on June 2025):

Tests: 19 matches, 622 runs (avg 22.21, 1 century), 31 wickets (avg 26.87)

ODIs: 25 matches, 276 runs, 22 wickets

T20Is: 11 matches, 105 runs, 8 wickets

First-Class: 86 matches, 4,376 runs (avg 35.86, 12 hundreds), 197 wickets (avg 28.09) 

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📈 Test Highs: Captaining & Big Innings

⭐ Maiden Test Century

In October 2024 against Bangladesh, Mulder notched his first Test hundred with an unbeaten 105*, showcasing his ability to absorb and build innings .

🏆 Historic 264* as Captain

In July 2025, in Zimbabwe’s second Test at Bulawayo, Mulder captained South Africa and scored an incredible 264*, the highest ever by a player leading on Test debut. He also smashed the South African record for most runs in a single Test day, solidifying his status as a rising star .

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💡 Why Wiaan Mulder Matters

1. True All-Rounder: His balanced performances with both bat and ball make him invaluable, especially in Tests.

2. Pressure Prowess: Calm demeanor in tense moments earns praise from coaches and teammates .

3. Leadership Emergence: Early captaincy and historic runs hint at future leadership roles.

4. Versatility Across Formats: Whether it's county cricket, franchise leagues, or international stages, Mulder adapts seamlessly.

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🔮 The Road Ahead

With Test, ODI, and T20 experience, and exposure in global leagues like IPL (Sunrisers Hyderabad, 2025) and SA20, Mulder is poised as a mainstay in South Africa’s cricket strategy . Fans and analysts watch eagerly—will he play a pivotal role in future ICC tournaments? Only time will tell.

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🧭 Final Verdict

Wiaan Mulder’s journey—from a gifted schoolboy to a record-setting captain—is a testament to perseverance, adaptability, and growth. His unique blend of batting might, bowling prowess, and composure makes him a beacon for South African cricket’s future.