South Africa

Is Faf du Plessis is returning to play cricket for South Africa?

by
Zainab Shafiq
May 18, 2023

Table of Contents

Faf du Plessis reveals talks with new South African white-ball coach about potential return
T20 World Cup in focus for du Plessis’ comeback, with ODI World Cup as a possibility
Balance of physical, emotional, and mental well-being crucial for du Plessis’ decision-making

Faf du Plessis, the experienced South African cricketer, has hinted at a potential comeback to the national squad. He revealed that he is in discussions with the new white-ball coach, Rob Walter, regarding his return. Du Plessis, known for his flamboyant batting style, hasn’t represented South Africa on the international stage for quite some time, making his comeback a topic of great interest.

Faf du Plessis in Talks for Sensational Return to South African Squad for T20 World Cup

Du Plessis expressed his interest in making a return at the upcoming T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in the West Indies and the United States of America next year. However, he also acknowledged that his career phase aligns better with T20 cricket at this point. While he may receive an opportunity to play in the ODI World Cup later in the year, the veteran batter believes that T20 cricket suits him the most in his current state.

The cricketer expressed gratitude for the coach’s interest in including him in the team. The discussions with Walter are primarily focused on assessing du Plessis’ physical condition, considering he has been dealing with a tennis elbow issue for about a year. He has undergone injections to address the problem, and now the conversation revolves around finding a balance between his physical, emotional, and mental well-being.

Also, read: He denies my suggestions, says Virat Kohli on Du Plessis’ RCB captaincy

Du Plessis highlighted the challenges of 50-over cricket due to its longer format and the extensive time spent on the field. He mentioned that they will address the ODI format after the Indian Premier League (IPL) and as they approach the latter part of the year. Currently, the primary focus is on the T20 World Cup in July of next year, which both du Plessis and the coach are keen to make happen.

With an impressive track record, including 143 ODI matches and 50 T20 matches, du Plessis brings a wealth of experience to the South African squad. In ODIs, he has scored 5,507 runs at a strike rate of 88.60, while in T20 matches, he has accumulated 1,528 runs at a strike rate of 134.38.