Faf du Plessis recently became the first batsman to strike the maiden century in South Africa’s T20 league SA20. In an interview, the skipper talked about the importance of SA20 in South African cricket and how it will change the face of cricket for the SA team. He also discussed the talented players on the team and how they will influence the upcoming South African players.
Starting the conversation with the importance of the ongoing SA T20 tournament and how it can be among the top T20 tournaments globally, Faf du Plessis explained how everyone has been waiting for it for quite some time. He said despite having T20 matches before in South Africa, they were waiting to ‘take it to a new level.’ He explained how now the world can see “more of South Africa.”
The skipper also discussed how the tournament brings together overseas talent and how it will benefit SA cricket.
The Joburg Super Kings captain explained how franchise competitions hold importance in today’s cricket. He said such competitions allow younger players to play against some of the best talents globally, ultimately fast-tracking their learning; making the national team strong.
Being the oldest skipper leading a team in the current SA20, Faf du Plessis is excited about his role. When asked whether he still feels excited about such competition, he said, “yeah, that’s why I am still playing. I’m still enjoying it as much as when I was playing for South Africa, even as much as when I started playing the game. That’s the most important thing. While I still feel that level of enjoyment, I think I can keep it going as long as I want to.”
The skipper also explained how the T20 competitions help the national team to improve and give rise to healthy competition. He said these competitions are a great learning opportunity for white-ball cricketers.
When asked about the key factor in winning the T20s, Faf du Plessis said the game’s tactical side and team formation are prominent. He further said one must understand the conditions on a ‘game-to-game basis’ during franchise competitions, like considering the opposition and structuring the team to win.
The SA batter also plays for IPL (Indian Premier League) and is captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore team. Sharing insights on his being a major part of IPL’s CSK team for eleven years, Faf du Plessis said SA20 will allow the players to “come to my part of the world and it will be great to link up with them.”
The skipper picked West Indies bowler Alzarri Joseph as the ‘most excited to work with’ on the Joburg Super Kings team. He said, “He (Alzarri Joseph) has got some real raw pace. I am really excited to see what he can do on South African pitches.” The skipper also explained his disappointment in losing Harry Brook, but he is sure the Joburg Super Kings' talent can cover the loss.
When asked to pick one cricketer from a SA20 opponent team, Faf du Plessis picked Rashid Khan for his experience and ‘leg-spin.’
