Faf du Plessis, the former captain of South Africa, disclosed that he is thinking about making a return to international cricket in time for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies next year.
Since playing for South Africa in the second Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi in 2021, Du Plessis has not represented the Proteas in an international match. His final white-ball encounter for his nation was a T20I match against England in Cape Town at the end of 2020.
This year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) saw the 39-year-old veteran play well at the domestic level. He scored 730 runs for Royal Challengers Bangalore from 14 innings, including eight half-centuries, making him the second-highest run scorer behind only Shubman Gill. With his impressive level of fitness, diverse shot selection, and intense desire to play cricket, Du Plessis has demonstrated that he is far from finished. While playing in another domestic competition in Abu Dhabi, Du Plessis has revealed that he is in talks with South Africa’s new white-ball coach, Rob Walter, about rejoining the national team before to the T20 World Cup.
“I believe that I can return to international cricket,” du Plessis said as quoted by ICC.
“We have been speaking about this for the last couple of years. It is just figuring out the balance of the T20 World Cup next year. It is certainly something we have spoken about with the new coach,” he said. Du Plessis led South Africa over two T20 World Cup campaigns in 2014 and 2016, but despite never having formally retired from international white-ball cricket, he was not taken into consideration for the tournament’s last two editions. In 50 T20I matches, he has played for the Proteas. He has amassed 1,528 runs at an average of 35.53, with a top score of 119 and one century and ten fifties in 50 innings. With a strike rate of more than 134, he has scored runs.
The possibility of du Plessis and many other veteran players returning was kept open by Walter, who recently mentioned a group of players who were not picked for South Africa’s impending tour of India. Among the players that may make it to the largest T20I cricket tournament was Du Plessis’ name. “Given that some of our frontline bowlers are missing out and there are guys – let me throw it out there just to create some media hype – like Faf (du Plessis) and Rilee (Rossouw) as well as Quinny (de Kock) that could well be considered for a T20 World Cup,” Walter had said.
“And then also the (South African domestic tournament) SA20 that happens next year – 80 per cent of the side picks itself but there is definitely a space for other guys to get themselves into the conversation.”
Despite not having a major playing contract with South Africa, du Plessis possesses a healthy physique, a wealth of experience, and 23 international centuries in all formats. He feels that he is still in sufficient form to don the national colors once more. “I do a lot of hard work to ensure I look after my body to be able to play this brilliant game we love so much,” he added.
“When you do get a little bit older, you have to make sure you put in the work. Otherwise, the hamstring and other body parts do not work that well. There is a lot of fast running and a lot of stuff to make sure that level where you can play against the best players in the world,”he came to an end.
