Faf Du Plessis, the South African batsman who plays for CSK in IPL and has scored the fifties in both the games might open batting according to Chennai Super Kings’ head coach Stephen Fleming. Since both Ambati Rayudu and Dwayne Bravo are injured and Faf Du Plessis in tremendous form, Stephen Fleming hinted that the former South African skipper might open the innings.
Rajasthan Royals defeated CSK by 16 runs on Tuesday after posting a mammoth 216/7. However, Faf Du Plessis played a magnificent knock of 72 runs off 37 balls only. He batted till the 19th over of the CSK innings and had given CSK hope of a win before Jofra Archer ended his stint at the crease.
Faf Du Plessis May Open: Stephen Fleming Give Hints As CSK Have Games In Quick Succession
His knock was studded with seven glorious sixes and one boundary. The right-handed batsman had also played a vital knock of 58 runs off 44 balls and stayed unbeaten in CSK’s opening IPL game against Mumbai Indians on Saturday which they won. Faf Du Plessis is the leading run-scorer so far in IPL with 130 runs in his belt.
“Yeah maybe keeping in mind we had a couple of injuries, like Ambati Rayudu today just before we left for the game. So we had to shuffle a little bit but it’s early days. So we are just finding out how to drive this car,” said Fleming while responding to ANI if Du Plessis can be seen opening the batting in upcoming games, during a virtual press conference.
“There could be some movement but right at the stage, we got yet another game in quick succession. We are playing three in six days. We gonna make sure we do not panic as we never do and take whatever positives we get out of this game,” the coach added.
Faf Du Plessis has featured in 73 IPL matches so far and scored 1983 runs averaging 33.05.
CSK Wanted To Be Aggressive As They Have A Long Batting Order: Stephen Fleming
During the chase, Sam Curran, Rituraj Gaikwad and Kedar Jadhav came ahead of skipper MS Dhoni. Rituraj Gaikwad, who came in place of injured Ambati Rayudu made a golden duck.
“We were expecting good things. MS (Dhoni) is a specialist towards the end of the innings, always has been. Curran was there to keep us ahead in the game. He has good hitting power and it was just the first game for Ruturaj,” said Fleming.
“We just wanted to be aggressive. We got a long batting order and just try to use our resources smartly,” he concluded.
MS Dhoni scored 29 off 17 balls which included three sixes but it was not enough as Rajasthan Royals won by 16 runs. Rajasthan Royals won after Rahul Tewatia picked up three wickets and both skipper Steven Smith and wicket-keeper Sanju Samson scored half-centuries. CSK will next play against Delhi Capitals on Friday, September 25.