Faf du Plessis will be leading the Royals Challengers Banglore (RCB) side in IPL 2023, RCB will start their camping in the 16th edition of the Indian T20 league against Mumbai Indians (MI) on April 2.
The classy right-handed batter retired from Test cricket in February 2021. Despite performing well in different T-20 leagues worldwide, the 38-year-old has been overlooked for South Africa from limited-overs cricket. Cricket South Africa (CSA) , director of cricket, Enoch Nkwe hinted at veteran proteas batter return in white-ball format.
CSA director of cricket on potential return from retirement of du Plessis-
“We have always been open to talks with our freelance players and Rob is very much interested in resuming those conversations,”
“A lot of players are still committed to all three formats but we have some players who are only white ball and some only red ball,” said Nkwe.
Since his final Test, the right-handed batter has averaged 33.91 in 90 innings scoring 2747 runs in the PSL, CPL, IPL, BPL, BBL and SA20, including four centuries in the T20 leagues. His 369 runs in 11 matches with a strike rate of 147.60 was the second-highest in the inaugural edition of CSA-organised SA20.
“What we foresee in the near future, maybe even the next 12 months, is that we might even go more specifically to T20, ODI and Test contracts. Those are some of the things that we’re actually looking at,” he further added.
Earlier, in his statement, the former South African skipper revealed that a breakdown with head coach Mark Boucher has led to his retirement from the longer format of the game. The right-handed batter decided to pull out after the series against England in Ferburary 2020.
60 secs of FAFulous cricket shots ?#WhistleForJoburg pic.twitter.com/6ETBJoeDlv
— Joburg Super Kings (@JSKSA20) February 15, 2023
“There were conversations before the World Cup with the selection panel and the coach and they concluded without a solution. From a CSA point of view, we are happy to engage and see how we can find the best way forward,” said Nkwe.
The Banglore-based club finished in the fourth spot in the last edition of IPL in 2022 under Faf’s leadership, the RCB will be looking to win the title first time after reaching finals on three occasions.
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