In a massive boost for South Africa, Faf du Plessis has hinted at making a comeback into the team ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024. With only six months left for the showpiece event, the former South African captain is keen to play for his country and try to win the first-ever T20 World Cup. While the news comes as a relief for Proteas, the same cannot be said for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), as Du Plessis, the skipper, might miss a few games to be fit and fresh for the T20 World Cup.
“I believe that I can return to international cricket,” du Plessis told the broadcaster of the Abu Dhabi T10 league.
“We have been speaking about this for the last couple of years. It’s just figuring out the balance of the T20 World Cup next year. It’s certainly something we have spoken about with the new coach.”
With the T20 World Cup starting on June 4 in the USA and West Indies, just days after IPL 2024 comes to an end, Du Plessis’s aim would be to be fit and fine for the showpiece event if selected. So, the RCB skipper might pick and choose games in the IPL 2024 season.
Du Plessis never retired from white-ball formats of the game. However, the veteran was sidelined from the team due to his showdown with the then-SA coach ahead of the T20 World Cup 2021. Since that snub, the 39-year-old has been playing in several T20 leagues and is in contention to be yet again selected for the T20I team.
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The RCB captain also had a breakthrough IPL 2023 season, scoring 730 runs in 14 matches. The right-hand batter was the second-leading run-scorer behind Shubman Gill. After missing two T20 World Cups for South Africa (2021, 2022), Du Plessis is keen to make amends this time around.
Rob Walter opens about Faf Du Plessis playing the T20 World Cup
South Africa’s white-ball formats head coach Rob Walter has not closed the door on Du Plessis’s comeback in the T20 setup. Walter stated that there is always room for senior players to break into the squad if they manage to perform well in various leagues.
“Given that some of our frontline bowlers are missing out and there are guys – let me throw it out there just to create some media hype – like Faf (du Plessis) and Rilee (Rossouw) as well as Quinny (De Kock) that could well be considered for a T20 World Cup and then also the SA20 that happens next year – 80% of the side picks itself but there is definitely a space for other guys to get themselves into the conversation,” Walter said.
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