Faf du Plessis

Francois du Plessis, the South African international cricketer and former captain of the Proteas, is an all-format cricketer who has also represented various franchises all around the world. Known for his unorthodox batting technique, Faf du Plessis is regarded as one of the fittest South African cricketers. 

Du Plessis and the Indian Premier League (IPL) had a longstanding love affair. The South African was introduced to the cash-rich league for the first time ever by Chennai Super Kings in 2012, when he went on to have a very successful debut season, scoring 398 runs. His energy and dedication made him a perfect T20 package for any captain.

He impressed with a half-century on his ODI debut against India in 2011 and soon enough, found himself in South Africa’s squad for the 2011 World Cup. The middle-order batsman made his Test debut in November 2012 and became the fourth South African to score a Test century on debut. 

In 2013, du Plessis scored his second Test hundred against India while chasing 458 runs. South Africa came close to the target but ended with a shortfall of 8 runs. The match ended in a draw with South Africa 450/7, the stylish batter scored 134 runs off 309 balls and emerged as a dependable red-ball cricketer.

Faf du Plessis came into the limelight in an ODI tri-series with Australia and Zimbabwe in April 2014. In this series, he scored three consecutive centuries and failed to score another hundred in a row by just a shortfall of 4 runs. In a T20I match against West Indies, du Plessis became only the second batter to score a century in the shortest format. He scored 119 runs from 56 balls in a resounding victory against the Men in Maroon.

Before the start of the 2016-17 Australia tour of South Africa, AB de Villiers was ruled out due to an injury and the management chose Faf to lead the side. In the second match of the series, he became the second captain after Tillakaratne Dilshan to score a century in all three formats. In December 2016, AB de Villiers stepped down permanently as the Test captain and du Plessis inherited the role. The following year, ABD stepped down as the skipper from all three formats, and du Plessis took charge.

Du Plessis has been found guilty twice for ball-tampering. The first time was against Pakistan in 2013, where he rubbed the ball against a zip on his trousers and was fined fifty per cent of his match fees. The second one against Australia was a bizarre incident in which he used some kind of mint to rub on one side of the ball to make it stick. His teammate Hashim Amla defended him in a statement stating that the tampering claims were a ‘joke’ and ‘ridiculous’.

Ahead of the England series in January 2020, Quinton de Kock was appointed as the ODI captain, replacing du Plessis, who was ignored by the selectors. The following month, du Plessis announced that he would be stepping down from the captaincy in both Tests and T20Is with immediate effect to allow a new generation of leaders to develop in the side.

After leading the Proteas for 36 Tests as a skipper, Faf du Plessis announced his retirement from Tests in February 2021.

In 2022, du Plessis was acquired by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL auction and was appointed as the team’s captain. He led RCB with determination, bringing his vast experience and leadership skills to the franchise. The same year, he was also signed by the Northern Superchargers for The Hundred in England and later by the Perth Scorchers for the first half of the 2022–23 Big Bash League season as a replacement for Laurie Evans.

His leadership qualities were further recognised in June 2023 when Texas Super Kings named him captain for the inaugural season of Major League Cricket (MLC) in the United States. Continuing his dominance in franchise cricket, du Plessis guided the Saint Lucia Kings to victory in the 2024 Caribbean Premier League (CPL), adding another trophy to his illustrious career.

Ahead of the IPL 2025 auction, RCB decided to release du Plessis, marking the end of his tenure with the franchise. However, Delhi Capitals saw immense value in his experience and leadership, securing him for INR 2 crore. Following his selection, du Plessis announced that the 2025 IPL season would be his last, signalling the closing chapter of his IPL journey.

At 40, du Plessis remains one of the fittest cricketers in the world, renowned for his agility and incredible running between the wickets. Even though he has not officially announced his retirement from white-ball cricket, he continues to excel in T20 leagues worldwide. His dedication, fitness, and hunger for competition serve as an inspiration to cricketers across generations. As he nears the twilight of his playing career, du Plessis is set to leave behind a legacy of resilience, leadership, and excellence, proving that true passion for the game knows no boundaries.

(As of May 2025)