South Africa | Middle order Batter
Faf du Plessis is a South African middle-order batter known for his adaptable and aggressive batting style, capable of both anchoring innings and attacking the bowling. He has played extensively in all formats of the game, including Test, ODI, and T20 cricket, as well as in various T20 leagues like the IPL.
| Full Name Francois du Plessis | Born July 13, 1984, Pretoria | Age 40y 298d |
| Batting Style Right hand Bat | Bowling Style Legbreak | Playing Role Middle order Batter |
| Height 5ft 11in | Education Affies Boys School, Pretoria | RELATIONS GC Viljoen(brother-in-law) |
Teams
Faf du Plessis: A Cricketing Journey of Resilience, Leadership, and Excellence
Early Life & Domestic Career
Born on July 13, 1984 , in Pretoria, South Africa, Faf du Plessis emerged as a prodigious talent in cricket. He began his domestic career representing Northerns , showcasing his technical prowess and calm demeanor early on. His performances earned him a move to the Titans franchise, where he became a cornerstone of their batting lineup. Known for his temperament and ability to anchor innings, du Plessis laid the foundation for a stellar international career .
International Career
Du Plessis made his international debut in 2011 , quickly establishing himself as a reliable middle-order batter across formats. He became a key figure in South Africa’s “post-Jacques Kallis era,” blending consistency with flair 9. His career spanned from 2011 to 2021 , during which he played 49 Tests, 143 ODIs, and 59 T20Is .
- Test Cricket :
Du Plessis was South Africa’s premier Test batter in the 2010s, renowned for his resilience and match-winning knocks. He scored 10 centuries in Tests, including a gritty 110 against Australia in 2012 that helped South Africa avoid a whitewash. His leadership shone as captain of the Test side , guiding the team through challenging phases . - ODIs & T20Is :
In ODIs, he averaged over 40 , often stabilizing innings after early collapses. As a T20I batter, he adapted to the format’s demands, striking crucial cameos. He also led South Africa in ODIs and T20Is, though his captaincy was often overshadowed by the team’s inconsistency in ICC tournaments . - Retirement :
Du Plessis retired from international cricket in 2021 , leaving behind a legacy of grit and leadership. His contributions were pivotal during South Africa’s dominance as a touring Test side in the late 2010s .
Faf du Plessis IPL factfile
– Faf du Plessis has won two IPL finals, both with Chennai Super Kings (CSK), in 2018 and 2021.
– Du Plessis was the player of the match in the 2021 final for his 59-ball 86, which took CSK to 192 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
– As of 2025, he is one of the only five players to have scored 4000 or more IPL runs without a century to their name. The others are MS Dhoni, Robin Uthappa, Dinesh Karthik and Gautam Gambhir.
– Du Plessis has played for two other teams in the IPL: Rising Pune Supergiant (RPSG) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), captaining RCB since 2022. In 2025, du Plessis will add another name to his IPL team list after he was picked by Delhi Capitals for his base price of INR 2 crore (USD 240,000 approx). He was also named vice-captain.
Other T20 Leagues & T10 League
Beyond the IPL, du Plessis has participated in global T20 leagues:
- Big Bash League (BBL) : Represented Perth Scorchers (2015–2018), contributing to their 2017 title win .
- Pakistan Super League (PSL) : Played for Multan Sultans (2020–2022), adding experience to their batting lineup.
- County Cricket : Featured for Lancashire in England, enhancing his tactical acumen .
While details about his T10 League participation are sparse in the provided data, his adaptability across formats highlights his versatility as a modern cricketer .
Strong Zones
- Technical Proficiency :
Du Plessis’ textbook drives through covers and precise pull shots make him a threat against pace. His ability to read spin early allows him to dominate tweakers in subcontinental conditions . - Pressure Handling :
Known as a “crisis man,” he excels in low-scoring games or when wickets tumble early. His composure under pressure has saved teams like CSK and South Africa from collapses . - Fielding :
A sharp slip fielder and dynamic outfield presence, his athleticism adds value to any squad .
Legacy
Faf du Plessis leaves an indelible mark on cricket:
- Leadership : His captaincy for South Africa and CSK emphasized resilience and unity. Though his tenure with South Africa was marred by missed ICC opportunities, his leadership in Tests remains respected .
- Consistency : Averaging over 40 in Tests and ODIs , he ranks among South Africa’s greatest batters post-2010.
- Mentorship : In the IPL, he has mentored young talents like Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway , ensuring CSK’s legacy continues
Faf du Plessis Career Stats
Batting & Fielding
| Format | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s | Ct | St |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 69 | 118 | 14 | 4163 | 199 | 40.02 | 8986 | 46.32 | 10 | 21 | 516 | 21 | 63 | 0 |
| ODIs | 143 | 136 | 20 | 5507 | 185 | 47.47 | 6215 | 88.60 | 12 | 35 | 495 | 66 | 81 | 0 |
| T20Is | 50 | 50 | 7 | 1528 | 119 | 35.53 | 1137 | 134.38 | 1 | 10 | 140 | 50 | 24 | 0 |
| FC | 150 | 250 | 26 | 8798 | 199 | 39.27 | – | – | 18 | 52 | – | – | 141 | 0 |
| List A | 262 | 244 | 42 | 9483 | 185 | 46.94 | 10599 | 89.47 | 21 | 57 | – | – | 147 | 0 |
| T20s | 410 | 389 | 39 | 11404 | 120* | 32.58 | 8379 | 136.10 | 6 | 80 | 1033 | 423 | 206 | 0 |
Bowling
| Format | Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 69 | 5 | 78 | 69 | 0 | – | – | – | 5.30 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ODIs | 143 | 11 | 192 | 189 | 2 | 1/8 | 1/8 | 94.50 | 5.90 | 96.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| T20Is | 50 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 0 | – | – | – | 2.25 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| FC | 150 | – | 2558 | 1477 | 41 | 4/39 | – | 36.02 | 3.46 | 62.3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| List A | 262 | – | 2238 | 2030 | 54 | 4/47 | 4/47 | 37.59 | 5.44 | 41.4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| T20s | 410 | 52 | 790 | 917 | 50 | 5/19 | 5/19 | 18.34 | 6.96 | 15.8 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Faf du Plessis T20 Stats
Batting & Fielding
| Tournament | Teams | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s | Ct | St |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPL | 4 teams | 151 | 144 | 11 | 4739 | 96 | 35.63 | 3483 | 136.06 | 0 | 39 | 436 | 173 | 84 | 0 |
| SA20 | JSK | 33 | 31 | 4 | 894 | 113* | 33.11 | 626 | 142.81 | 1 | 7 | 88 | 37 | 17 | 0 |
| CPL | 2 teams | 45 | 43 | 3 | 1305 | 120* | 32.62 | 925 | 141.08 | 2 | 7 | 105 | 64 | 22 | 0 |
| Major League Cricket | TSK | 15 | 15 | 0 | 466 | 100 | 31.06 | 299 | 155.85 | 1 | 3 | 48 | 23 | 10 | 0 |
| BBL | 2 teams | 8 | 8 | 0 | 177 | 68 | 22.12 | 123 | 143.90 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 9 | 5 | 0 |
| Men’s 100 | NSC-M | 8 | 8 | 0 | 134 | 56 | 16.75 | 99 | 135.35 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| BPL | CV | 11 | 11 | 3 | 295 | 101 | 36.87 | 220 | 134.09 | 1 | 1 | 28 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| PSL | 2 teams | 6 | 5 | 0 | 107 | 37 | 21.40 | 87 | 122.98 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Mzansi Super League | PR | 19 | 18 | 4 | 537 | 76* | 38.35 | 370 | 145.13 | 0 | 5 | 42 | 20 | 14 | 0 |
| Vitality Blast | 2 teams | 21 | 19 | 3 | 447 | 78* | 27.93 | 364 | 122.80 | 0 | 3 | 45 | 9 | 4 | 0 |
| CLT20 | CSK | 8 | 7 | 0 | 211 | 52 | 30.14 | 150 | 140.66 | 0 | 1 | 22 | 6 | 4 | 0 |
Bowling
| Tournament | Teams | Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPL | 4 teams | 151 | 1 | 6 | 16 | 0 | – | – | – | 16.00 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SA20 | JSK | 33 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| CPL | 2 teams | 45 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Major League Cricket | TSK | 15 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| BBL | 2 teams | 8 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Men’s 100 | NSC-M | 8 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| BPL | CV | 11 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| PSL | 2 teams | 6 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Mzansi Super League | PR | 19 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Vitality Blast | 2 teams | 21 | 15 | 216 | 250 | 14 | 2/13 | 2/13 | 17.85 | 6.94 | 15.4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| CLT20 | CSK | 8 | 3 | 36 | 52 | 1 | 1/3 | 1/3 | 52.00 | 8.66 | 36.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Debut/Last Matches of Faf du Plessis
Test Matches
Debut
Australia vs South Africa at Adelaide – November 22 – 26, 2012
Last
Pakistan vs South Africa at Rawalpindi – February 04 – 08, 2021
ODI Matches
Debut
South Africa vs India at Cape Town – January 18, 2011
Last
South Africa vs Australia at Manchester – July 06, 2019
T20I Matches
Debut
England vs South Africa at Chester-le-Street – September 08, 2012
Last
South Africa vs England at Cape Town – December 01, 2020
FC Matches
Debut
Gauteng vs Northerns at Centurion – March 05 – 08, 2004
Last
Pakistan vs South Africa at Rawalpindi – February 04 – 08, 2021
List A Matches
Debut
Northerns vs Border at East London – February 06, 2004
Last
Titans vs Warriors at Benoni – March 06, 2020
T20 Matches
Debut
Eagles vs Titans at Centurion – February 25, 2007
Last
DC vs SRH at Hyderabad – May 05, 2025
2025 IPL TEAM
Delhi Capitals Sunrisers Hyderabad Rajasthan Royals Chennai Super kings Gujrat Titans Kolkata knight Riders Lucknow Super Giants Mumbai Indians Punjab Kings Royal Challengers Bengaluru