FAF DU PLESSIS: FROM BETWAY SA20 TO IPL

Faf du Plessis believes his best-ever Indian Premier League season owes plenty to the work done at the Betway SA20.

Du Plessis was phenomenal in the IPL this season, displaying remarkable consistency, as he struck eight half-centuries in 14 matches en route to 730 runs to top the run-scoring standings after the league phase of the competition.  

His runs came at an average of 56.15 and equally impressive strike-rate of 153.68. 

At 38-years-old, Du Plessis seems to be striking the ball as well as ever in his career. This was certainly evident in the Betway SA20 too when the Joburg Super Kings captain made history by being the first centurion of the tournament when he stroked 113 not out (58 balls) against the Durban’s Super Giants at the Wanderers. 

It was not a once-off performance either as Du Plessis followed it up with a 92 in the next game as he closed off the inaugural Betway SA20 as the tournament’s second leading run-scorer with 369 runs at an average of 41. 

With the former Proteas captain not playing international cricket at the moment, he believes the Betway SA20 was crucial for him as he also struggled with an elbow injury prior to the IPL.

“I was lucky that before the IPL, we had the Betway SA20 back in South Africa, where I had a really good competition,” Du Plessis said. 

“And then after that, I had some time off with my elbow that was quite sore, so I was actually quite frustrated not being able to prepare for the IPL because I wanted to prepare and be ready when I got here. 

“And I didn’t get the preparation that I would have liked. But I think when you get a little bit older, you trust your game a little bit more. So, for me it was I could trust that, and take that (Betway SA20) form. 

“Maybe when you are a little bit younger, you feel like you need to do it. But I was like you had a really good campaign, trust that, get a few injections to get the elbow feeling a bit better, and luckily we started at Chinnaswamy which is a good wicket, which I think was really important.”

The veteran, who has played 343 T20 matches all over the world, claims all the experience he has gained over the years is now coming to the fore. 

“I feel like my game is in a good place. Everything is about your game plan, and how you feel you can execute your game plan,” Du Plessis said.

“I think I understand my technique a little bit better, where my game is at. I think I am quite clear about what are really good options, and what is not. And then you trust that.”