The 24-year-old, who hit 117 runs in 67 minutes, off just 51 balls, to win the Twenty20 international for the Proteas against the Black Caps two days ago, is supposed to return home on Thursday after the completion of the T20 series tomorrow.
But now there are growing calls for the South African selectors to include him in the squad for the one-day internationals, which start in Wellington on Saturday.
Levi's hundred, in only his second international match, was the fastest T20 century and included a world-record 13 sixes.
That single innings has catapulted him to the top of world cricket's agenda. Suddenly, he is the talk of the game - and to think that, only a few weeks ago, he did not even attract a bid in the Indian Premier League auction for the bargain price of $50000.
Leading the calls for Levi to remain in New Zealand as part of the Proteas ODI squad are former greats such as Clive Rice, Fanie de Villiers and Graeme Pollock
"We don't get to see too many innings like that at international level," said Rice, who captained the first South African team at the time of readmission. "He has definitely put his name on the list of players capable of being top performers. He must be used in the 50-over format as well."
Former Proteas fast bowler De Villiers believes players such as test captain Graeme Smith, should make way for the new sensation in the shorter versions of the game.
"He should have been playing in the place of a specific player who is not delivering. Cricket SA and the selectors have now cost Levi about 30 caps by not selecting him. It just shows a slowness of thought on CSA's part," De Villiers said.
"There are senior players, such as Graeme Smith, who should not be in the side. CSA should have seen the light earlier and not allowed players who have been playing for too long to continue."
Yesterday, Pollock was still in awe of Levi's "incredible" innings.
"The innings was just unbelievable. You don't get to see a great knock like that every day. He really looked the part of a great batsman - he was just incredible. He hits the ball well and cleanly. He is at the same level as a guy like Chris Gayle. He should be able to do the job in other forms of the game. Surely he can do something in test cricket as well," said Pollock.
Andre van der Zwan reports from New Zealand that fans were astounded to learn that Levi was not part of the South African ODI squad. The pitches of at least two of the venues for the ODIs - Eden Park and Napier - will have more pace than the grounds played on so far, and this would suit Levi.
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